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General Tan Yen-k'ai was born at Ch'a-lin Hsien, Hunan province, in 1876, his father being the late T'an Chung-lin, the Viceroy of Hu and Kuang Provinces. He became a Metropolitan Graduate in 1904 and was subsequently made a Hanlin Compiler, being admitted to the Hanlin Academy. Shortly afterwards he resigned from the Academy and returned home for retirement. While residing in Hunan, he was, however, active in local politics. In consequence he was elected chairman of the Provincial Assembly of Hunan in 1909, when the Ching House gave every indication of its determination to introduce constitutional government. In October 1911 the First Revolution broke out and General Tan was elected Chief of Military Affairs with headquarters at Changsha. In July 1912 he was appointed Tutu or Military Governor of Hunan. In October 1913 he was ordered by Yuan Shih-kai to turn over the office of Tutu to Tang Hsiang-