Name Sun Jiagan Died 1753 | Role Politician | |
Sun Jiagan (Chinese: 孫嘉淦; Hanyu Pinyin: Sun Jiagan; Tongyong Pinyin: Sun Chia-kan, 1683–1753) was a Chinese politician of the Qing dynasty.
Born in Taiyuan, Shanxi, Sun was son of a family that was so poor that he had to work hard all day collecting firewood, and could only study at night.
In 1713, he graduated as a jinshi in the imperial examination during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor and rose to the position of Libu Shilang for his frankness and uprightness.
During the reign of the Qianlong Emperor, Sun rose to the position of Xingbu Shangshu by 1730, and later to Libu Shangshu in 1738. He was degraded for disrespect in taking up the Qianlong Emperor's pencil to write with. However, the emperor restored him to office.
After holding various posts, in 1741 Sun became Viceroy of Huguang, where he introduced the system of subsidized chiefs, in order to keep the aborigines under control.
In 1743, he was relieved from his position due to shielding his men, yet was recalled to be head of the Imperial Clan Court in 1744.In 1745 he retired, but resumed office and served as Gongbu Shangshu in 1750.