Wellington Koo

Diplomat and former President of the Republic of China

Key facts

Premier: Himself
Preceded by: Du Xigui (acting)
Succeeded by: Zhang Zuolin (as Generalissimo of the Military Government)
President: Himself
Born: 29 January 1888, Shanghai , Qing China
Died: 14 November 1985 (aged 97), New York City , New York, U.S.
Party: Kuomintang (1942–1985)
Education: Columbia University ( BA , MA , PhD )
Occupation: Diplomat politician
Awards: Order of the Precious Brilliant Golden Grain , Order of Rank and Merit
Traditional chinese: 顧維鈞
Simplified chinese: 顾维钧

Article

Koo Vi Kyuin (Chinese: 顧維鈞; pinyin: Gù Wéijūn; Wade–Giles: Ku Wei-chün; 29 January 1888 – 14 November 1985), better known as V. K. Wellington Koo, was a Chinese diplomat.

Born in Shanghai, Koo studied in the United States, where he earned three degrees, including his doctorate in international law and diplomacy, from Columbia University. On his return to China in 1912, he became Yuan Shikai's secretary for foreign affairs, and in 1919, was a member of China's delegation at the Paris Peace Conference, where he unsuccessfully demanded the return of Shandong. He served as the Chinese ambassador to the Great Britain the next year. Between 1922 and 1927, Koo successively served the Beiyang government as minister of foreign affairs, minister of finance, acting premier, and president. After the Northern Expedition toppled the government in 1928, Koo joined the Nationalist government and continued his diplomatic career.