John Leighton Stuart
Encyclopedia
John Leighton Stuart was the first President
of Yenching University
and later United States ambassador
to China
; he was the last person to hold that position before the transfer of the embassy to Taipei
.
, China, on June 24, 1876, of Presbyterian missionary parents from the United States. He had three younger brothers, David Todd (1878), Warren Horton (1880) and Robert Kirland (1883). His father, John Linton Stuart and mother, Mary Louisa Horton and a brother were interred in Hangzhou. Although an American by nationality, Stuart considered himself Chinese more than an American. He spoke the Hangzhou dialect. At age eleven, he went to the U.S. state of Virginia
, where his awkwardness in speaking English led to his being teased by his classmates. He attended Hampden-Sydney College
and later Union Theological Seminary
, where he aspired to be a missionary.
In 1908 he became a professor of New Testament Literature and Exegesis at the Nanking
Theological Seminary. During his tenure, he published 'Essentials of New Testament Greek in Chinese'and 'Greek-Chinese-English Dictionary of the New Testament' (1918).
In January 1919, he became the first president of Yenching University. He established physical, financial, and education foundations of the institution. He quickly made the university among the the top universities, and the premier Christian institution, in China. He forged partnerships with Harvard University, leading to the establishment in 1928 of the famous Harvard－Yenching Institute, an important legacy in cultural exchange. He also forged partneships with Princeton University, Wellesley College, and the University of Missouri. He cared much about students and teachers and their interactions.
Shortly after the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Yenching University ceased to exist. In 1952, Peking University relocated to the Yenching campus.
Princeton University gave him an Honorary Doctorate in 1930, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt consulted him on Chinese issues in 1933.
(1919-1921) and May Thirtieth Movement (1925). He favored the Northern Expedition (1926-1927) against the warlord factions in Beijing. He even led a protest with Yenching students against the Japanese invasion in Manchuria (1937). He forged ties with the leaders in the Nationalist Party
, particularly Chiang Kai-shek
, since they both spoke the same Zhejiang dialect, and leaders in the Communist Party, some of whom were graduates of Yenching. He recommended U.S. aid to China during 1937-1941. After Pearl Harbor, the Japanese incarcerated Stuart in Beijing for 3 years and 8 months (Dec. 1941 - Aug. 1945).
His deep involvement with China's politics, education and culture won him respect among the Chinese intellectuals and students during the 1930s and the 1940s. Even Wen Yiduo
, a scholar whom Mao Zedong and the Chinese communists often praised, expressed his respect and admiration for John Leighton Stuart in his famous last speech. Ironically, when Wen Yiduo's last speech was included in Chinese textbooks in Mainland China, the paragraph praising John Leighton Stuart was deleted.
In reaction to the State Department White Paper on China, Mao Zedong
published a sarcastic article Farewell, Leighton Stuart! which has the following characterization of Leighton Stuart:
Attempts to accommodate the Communist Party failed, with both sides unwilling or unable to make any concessions. As a result, Stuart was expelled from China on August 2, 1949, and formally resigned as Ambassador on November 28, 1952.
, on Nov 17 2008.
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Yenching University
Yenching University
Yenching University was a university in Beijing, China. It integrated three Christian colleges in the city in 1919. Yenching is an alternative name of Beijing - derived from its status as capital of Yan state, one of the seven Warring States from 5th century BC to 3rd century BC.The university...
and later United States ambassador
Ambassadors from the United States
This is a list of ambassadors of the United States to individual nations of the world, to international organizations, to past nations, and ambassadors-at-large.Ambassadors are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate...
to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
; he was the last person to hold that position before the transfer of the embassy to Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
.
Early life
Born in HangzhouHangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
, China, on June 24, 1876, of Presbyterian missionary parents from the United States. He had three younger brothers, David Todd (1878), Warren Horton (1880) and Robert Kirland (1883). His father, John Linton Stuart and mother, Mary Louisa Horton and a brother were interred in Hangzhou. Although an American by nationality, Stuart considered himself Chinese more than an American. He spoke the Hangzhou dialect. At age eleven, he went to the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, where his awkwardness in speaking English led to his being teased by his classmates. He attended Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...
and later Union Theological Seminary
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York is a preeminent independent graduate school of theology, located in Manhattan between Claremont Avenue and Broadway, 120th to 122nd Streets. The seminary was founded in 1836 under the Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with nearby Columbia...
, where he aspired to be a missionary.
Missionary and academic
In 1904, after his marriage, he returned to China with his wife, Aline Rodd, and became a second generation missionary in China from the Presbyterian Church in the United States.In 1908 he became a professor of New Testament Literature and Exegesis at the Nanking
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
Theological Seminary. During his tenure, he published 'Essentials of New Testament Greek in Chinese'and 'Greek-Chinese-English Dictionary of the New Testament' (1918).
In January 1919, he became the first president of Yenching University. He established physical, financial, and education foundations of the institution. He quickly made the university among the the top universities, and the premier Christian institution, in China. He forged partnerships with Harvard University, leading to the establishment in 1928 of the famous Harvard－Yenching Institute, an important legacy in cultural exchange. He also forged partneships with Princeton University, Wellesley College, and the University of Missouri. He cared much about students and teachers and their interactions.
Shortly after the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Yenching University ceased to exist. In 1952, Peking University relocated to the Yenching campus.
Princeton University gave him an Honorary Doctorate in 1930, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt consulted him on Chinese issues in 1933.
Political Activities
Stuart supported Chinese nationalism. He was sympathetic to students and faculty at Yenching who participated in May Fourth MovementMay Fourth Movement
The May Fourth Movement was an anti-imperialist, cultural, and political movement growing out of student demonstrations in Beijing on May 4, 1919, protesting the Chinese government's weak response to the Treaty of Versailles, especially the Shandong Problem...
(1919-1921) and May Thirtieth Movement (1925). He favored the Northern Expedition (1926-1927) against the warlord factions in Beijing. He even led a protest with Yenching students against the Japanese invasion in Manchuria (1937). He forged ties with the leaders in the Nationalist Party
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
, particularly Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
, since they both spoke the same Zhejiang dialect, and leaders in the Communist Party, some of whom were graduates of Yenching. He recommended U.S. aid to China during 1937-1941. After Pearl Harbor, the Japanese incarcerated Stuart in Beijing for 3 years and 8 months (Dec. 1941 - Aug. 1945).
His deep involvement with China's politics, education and culture won him respect among the Chinese intellectuals and students during the 1930s and the 1940s. Even Wen Yiduo
Wen Yiduo
Wen Yiduo , born Wén Jiāhuá , courtesy names Yǒusān , Youshan , was a Chinese poet and scholar.-Biography:Wen was born in Xishui County, Hubei. After receiving a traditional education he went on to continue studying at the Tsinghua University. In 1922, he traveled to the United States to study fine...
, a scholar whom Mao Zedong and the Chinese communists often praised, expressed his respect and admiration for John Leighton Stuart in his famous last speech. Ironically, when Wen Yiduo's last speech was included in Chinese textbooks in Mainland China, the paragraph praising John Leighton Stuart was deleted.
U.S. Ambassador to China
On July 4, 1946, Stuart was appointed the U.S. Ambassador to China and, in this position, worked in concert with General George C. Marshall to mediate between Nationalists and Communists. After Marshall's departure from China in January 1947, he led the mediation efforts that changed from all-out support of the Nationalist government to mediating the coalition government, to negotiating an understanding with the Communist party When the Nationalist government fled Nanjing, and Communist forces entered the city in April 1949, Stuart maintained the U.S. Embassy in Nanjing. He sought accommodation with the Communist Party in an effort to maintain U.S. presence and influence in China, making contact through a graduate of Yenching University, Huang Hua, who became a member of the Nanjing Military Council.In reaction to the State Department White Paper on China, Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
published a sarcastic article Farewell, Leighton Stuart! which has the following characterization of Leighton Stuart:
John Leighton Stuart, who was born in China in 1876, was always a loyal agent of U.S. cultural aggression in China. He started missionary work in China in 1905 and in 1919 president of Yenching University, which was established by the United States in Peking. On July 11, 1946, he was appointed U.S. ambassador to ChinaUnited States Ambassador to ChinaThe United States Ambassador to China is the chief American diplomat to People's Republic of China . The United States has sent diplomatic representatives to China since 1844, when Caleb Cushing, as Commissioner, negotiated the Treaty of Wanghia. Commissioners represented the United States in...
. He actively supported the Kuomintang reactionaries in prosecuting the civil war and carried out various political Intrigues against the Chinese people. On August 2, 1949, because all the efforts of U.S. imperialism to obstruct the victory of the Chinese people's revolution had completely failed, Leighton Stuart had to leave China quietly.
Attempts to accommodate the Communist Party failed, with both sides unwilling or unable to make any concessions. As a result, Stuart was expelled from China on August 2, 1949, and formally resigned as Ambassador on November 28, 1952.
Final Wish
In Stuart's will, he wishes to be buried in China, or more precisely in Beijing,the campus of Yenching University. His ashes were buried in his birthplace, HangzhouHangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
, on Nov 17 2008.
External links
- Remembering John Leighton Stuart, New York Times,November 21, 2008.Accessed October 19, 2011.
- The father of Yenching University, CCTVChina Central TelevisionChina Central Television or Chinese Central Television, commonly abbreviated as CCTV, is the major state television broadcaster in mainland China. CCTV has a network of 19 channels broadcasting different programmes and is accessible to more than one billion viewers...
,July 12 2011,Accessed October 19, 2011. - John Leighton Stuart, China Expert, Is Buried Hangzhou at Last
- Mao ZedongMao ZedongMao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
: Farewell, Leighton Stuart!