Preceded by Li Yuanhong Succeeded by Duan Qirui Role Political leader | Name Cao Kun Political party Zhili clique Allegiance Empire of China | |
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Premier Gao Lingwei
Sun Baoqi
Ku Wei-chun Born 12 December 1862 ( 1862-12-12 ) Battles/wars Beijing coup
National Protection War
National Protection War
Zhili–Anhui War
First Zhili–Fengtian War Died May 15, 1938, Tianjin, China Battles and wars Beijing Coup, National Protection War, Zhili–Anhui War, First Zhili–Fengtian War Similar People Duan Qirui, Wu Peifu, Zhang Zuolin, Xu Shuzheng | ||
General Cao Kun (Chinese: 曹锟/曹錕; Courtesy name: Zhongshan (仲珊)) (December 12, 1862 – May 15, 1938) was a President of the Republic of China and military leader of the Zhili clique in the Beiyang Army; he also served as trustee of the Catholic University of Peking.
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Early life and rise to leadership
Cao was born to a poor family in Tianjin. During the First Sino-Japanese War in 1894 he went with the army to fight in Choson. After the war was over he joined Yuan Shikai to participate in the training of the New Army (known as the Beiyang Army). Admired by Yuan, Cao managed to rise very quickly. By the time of 1911 Xinhai Revolution he commanded the Beiyang 3rd Division.
He was made a general in the Beiyang Army and led the Zhili clique after the death of Feng Guozhang. During the 1918 election he was promised the vice-presidency by Duan Qirui but the office remained vacant after most of the National Assembly left, depriving it of a quorum. He felt betrayed by Duan and defeated him in battle in 1920. He forced the resignations of both Xu Shichang and Li Yuanhong and was president of the Republic of China (in Beijing) from October 10, 1923, to November 2, 1924.
Cao had a family connection to the Chinese Muslim military commander Ma Fuxing, who resided in Xinjiang.
"Bribing president"
Cao Kun infamously acquired the presidential office by openly bribing assembly members with 5,000 silver dollars each. This episode brought disrepute to the Beiyang government and its assembly, which lacked a quorum to even hold elections. It turned all the rival factions against him and his own clique began suffering from dissension. Relations with his chief protégé, Wu Peifu, soured and there were rumors of an impending split within the Zhili clique, but they stayed together to fight against the Fengtian clique. One of his first acts as president was to promulgate the 1923 constitution of China. Hastily drafted by the guilt-ridden assembly, it was deemed the most democratic and progressive yet, but like previous charters it was ignored completely.
During a war against Zhang Zuolin in October 1924, Cao was betrayed and imprisoned by one of his own officers, Gen. Feng Yuxiang, in the Beijing coup. Feng occupied Beijing and forced Cao to resign. His brother, Cao Rui, committed suicide while under house arrest. Cao was released two years later as a goodwill gesture by Feng to Wu Peifu.
Cao died in his home at Tianjin in May 1938.