Li Hongzhang (1823 - 1901) was a general who ended several major rebellions, statesman and ambassador of the Chinese Qing Empire. Born in Hefei, Anhui province, Li Hongzhang was in charge of China's foreign relations for the Empress Dowager Cixi. He fought to keep order during the Taiping Rebellion and the Boxer Rebellion. In 1896 he toured the United States of America, advocating reform of that country's immigration policies.

From his earliest youth he showed marked ability, and when quite young he took his bachelor degree. In 1847 he became a Jinshi, or graduate of the highest order, and two years later was admitted into the imperial Hanlin college. Shortly after this the central provinces of the empire were invaded by the Taiping rebels, and in defence of his native district he raised a regiment of militia, with which he did such good service to the imperial cause that he attracted the attention of Zeng Guofan, the generalissimo in command.

In 1859 he was transferred to the province of Fujian, where he was given the rank of Daotai, or intendant of circuit. But Zeng had not forgotten him, and at his request Li was recalled to take part against the rebels. He found his cause supported by the "Ever Victorious Army," which, after having been raised by an American named Ward, was finally placed under the command of Charles George Gordon. With this support Li gained numerous victories leading to the surrender of Suzhou and the capture of Nanjing. For these exploits he was made governor of Jiangsu, was decorated with a yellow jacket, and was created an earl.

An incident connected with the surrender of Suzhou, however, left a lasting stain upon his character. By an arrangement with Gordon, the rebel kings, or princes, yielded Nanjing on condition that their lives should be spared. In spite of the assurance given them by Gordon, Li ordered their instant execution. This breach of faith so aroused Gordon's indignation that he seized a rifle, intending to shoot the falsifier of his word, and would have done so had not Li saved himself by flight. On the suppression of the rebellion (1864) Li took up his duties as governor, but was not long allowed to remain in civil life. On the outbreak of the rebellion of a remnant of the Taipings, in Hunan and Shandong (1866) he was ordered again to take the field, and after some misadventures he succeeded in suppressing the movement. A year later he was appointed viceroy of Huguang, where he remained until 1870, when a large massacre necessitated his transfer to the scene of the outrage. He was, as a natural consequence, appointed to the viceroyalty of a metropolitan province, and justified his appointment by the energy with which he suppressed all attempts to keep alive the anti-foreign sentiment among the people. For his services he was made imperial tutor and member of the grand council of the empire, and was decorated with many-eyed peacocks' feathers.

To his duties as viceroy were added those of the superintendent of trade, and from that time until his death, with a few intervals of retirement, he practically conducted the foreign policy of China. On the death of the emperor Tongzhi in 1875 he, by suddenly introducing, a large armed force into the capital, effected a coup d'etat by which the emperor Guangxu was put on the throne under the tutelage, of the two dowager empresses; and in 1886, on the conclusion of the Franco-Chinese War, he arranged a treaty with France. Li was always strongly impressed with the necessity of strengthening the empire. For years he had watched the successful reforms effected in Japan and had a well-founded dread of coming into conflict with that empire.