Zeng Guofan

Also known as Chuming Zicheng · Zi Bohan · Hao Disheng · Wen Zheng · Yi Deng Yi Yong Hou

Zeng Guofan, first named Zicheng, courtesy name Bohan, styled Disheng, came from Xiangxiang in Hunan. He passed the jinshi examination in 1838, entered the Hanlin Academy and within ten years became a vice-minister of rites. While at home mourning his mother in 1852 he was ordered to help organize the Hunan militia, which he built into the Xiang Army to fight the Taiping. Made acting governor-general of Liangjiang in 1860, he set up an arsenal at Anqing after taking the city the next year, and when his brother Zeng Guoquan captured the Taiping capital Nanjing in 1864 he was created a marquis of the first rank. He later served as governor-general of Zhili and again of Liangjiang, handled the Tianjin massacre of 1870, and in 1871 joined Li Hongzhang in proposing that boys be sent to study in America. He died in office at Nanjing early in 1872 and was named Wenzheng; the first group of students sailed that autumn.