Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Yung Wing

YUNG WING, a Chinese diplomatist, born in Nanping, China, Nov. 17, 1828; came to the United States in 1847; was graduated at Yale College in 1854; and in 1864 was commissioned by the Chinese Government to buy machinery in the United States for the arsenal of Kiang-Nau. In 1870 he proposed to the Chinese Government the settlement of claims for the massacre of Christians at Tientsin by establishing a line of steamers to carry a tribute of rice, the outgrowth of which was the celebrated China Merchant Steam Navigation Company. He was also influential in persuading the Chinese Government to provide for the education of Chinese youth in foreign countries, that intercourse with foreigners might be made easier. In 1875 he married Miss Mary Kellog of Hartford, Conn., an act which met with disfavor, with the Chinese authorities and led to his recall. In 1878, however, he was appointed assistant minister of China to the United States, where he remained till the outbreak of the Chino-Japanese War, when he was ordered to China. At the close of the war he was appointed one of the peace commissioners, but on the refusal of the Japanese to recognize him because of his rank he was replaced by Chang-Ten-Hoon. Subsequently he was raised in rank and in 1897 represented the Chinese Government at Queen Victoria's jubilee. He died in 1912.