Chen Shaokuan
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Qing dynasty (to 1911)
Republic of China
ChinaChen Shaokuan | |
|---|---|
陳紹寬 | |
 | |
| Chief of Navy of the Republic of China Navy | |
| In office 1 January 1938 – 26 December 1945 | |
| Minister of Navy of the Republic of China | |
| In office 1932–1938 | |
| Preceded by | Yang Shuzhuang |
| Member of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China | |
| In office September 1954 – 30 July 1969 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 October 1889 |
| Died | 30 July 1969 (aged 79) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Qing dynasty (to 1911) Republic of China China |
| Branch/service | .svg){kind=small} Imperial Chinese Navy Republic of China Navy |
| Rank |  Fleet Admiral |
| Battles/wars | World War I Second Sino-Japanese War World War II |
Chen Shaokuan DSO (simplified Chinese: 陈绍宽; traditional Chinese: 陳紹寬; pinyin: Chén Shàokuān; October 7, 1889 – July 30, 1969) was a Chinese Fleet Admiral who served as the senior commander of the Republic of China Navy during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II.
World War I
Chen Shaokuan was born on October 7, 1889 in Chengmen Town in Cangshan, Fuzhou. Chen's father served in the Imperial Chinese Navy, originally having a career in carpentry. He took an interest to his father's occupation, attending the Jiangnan Naval Academy in Nanjing at the age of 17. At 20 years old he graduated from the academy and was assigned to the training cruiser Tongji, then in 1910 he served aboard the Jingqing. Rising up the ranks, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander on the eve of World War I in 1914, now serving for the navy of the Republic of China.
Since China was mainly neutral during WW1, Chen had limited involvement in the war. In an event unrelated to the war, he was once again promoted, this time as a commander, now assigned to the Zhaohe. He witnessed naval combat for the first time after visiting the United States and United Kingdom onboard British warships despite the many dangers that he would have faced at the time. Chen also served as a naval attaché to France, Italy and the United Kingdom.
Interwar period
Chen Shaokuan joined the National Revolutionary Army in 1927, becoming Deputy Director of the Navy Department in 1929, then head of the Navy Department in 1932. He also served as a member of the Military Affairs Commission of the National Government and an executive member of the Central Committee of the KMT.
