Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Lee Teng-hui

Role / Field:

Key Taiwanese politician, economist, and agronomist who led the democratization of the Republic of China.

Born:

1923-01-15

Died:

2020-07-30

Century / Era:

1923s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Lee Teng-hui (Chinese: 李登輝; pinyin: Lǐ Dēnghuī; 15 January 1923 – 30 July 2020) was a Taiwanese politician, economist, and agronomist who served as the fourth president of the Republic of China and chairman of the Kuomintang from 1988 to 2000. He was the first president to be born in Taiwan, the last to be indirectly elected, and the first to be directly elected. Born in Taihoku Prefecture, Lee was raised under Japanese rule. He was educated at Kyoto Imperial University and served in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II before graduating from National Taiwan University.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He then studied agricultural economics in the United States, where he earned his doctorate from Cornell University in 1968, beginning a career as an economics professor. As a member of the Kuomintang (KMT), he was appointed Mayor of Taipei in 1978 and became governor of Taiwan Province in 1981 under President Chiang Ching-kuo. Lee succeeded Chiang as president after Chiang's death in 1988. During his presidency, Lee oversaw the end of martial law in Taiwan and led reforms to democratize the Republic of China. He was an advocate of the Taiwanese localization movement, sought to establish greater international...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Alden W. Clausen — Contemporary (Born in 1923) (1923): American businessman, former President of the World Bank and Bank of America CEO.
• Alan Parker — Contemporary (Died in 2020) (2020): Acclaimed English filmmaker known for genre versatility and numerous BAFTA and Golden Globe wins.
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• Algernon Sidney — Shared historical date (01-15 · Born) (1623): English republican theorist and politician whose works shaped Western thought.
• Andrew Strominger — Shared historical date (07-30 · Born) (1955): American theoretical physicist specializing in quantum gravity and string theory.
• Arnold Schwarzenegger — Shared historical date (07-30 · Born) (1947): Iconic Austrian-American bodybuilder, actor, and politician.
• 1923 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1923
• January 15 (01-15) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on January 15
• 2020 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2020
• July 30 (07-30) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on July 30

Frequently Asked Questions about Lee Teng-hui