Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Soong Mei-ling

Role / Field:

Prominent figure in 20th-century Chinese politics and foreign relations.

Born:

1898-03-04

Died:

2003-10-23

Century / Era:

1898s Historical Era

Database Source:

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

Origins & Early Life

Soong Mei-ling (also spelled Soong May-ling; March 4, 1898 – October 23, 2003), also known as Madame Chiang (Chinese: 蔣夫人), was the First Lady of the Republic of China as the wife of Chiang Kai-shek. The youngest of the Soong sisters, she played a prominent role in Chinese politics and foreign relations in the first half of the 20th century. Soong Mei-ling was born in the Song family home, a traditional house called Neishidi (內史第), in Pudong, Shanghai, China. Her passport issued by the Qing government showed that she was born on March 4, 1898.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Some sources said she was born on March 5, 1898, at St. Luke's Hospital in Shanghai, while others gave the year as 1897, since Chinese tradition considers one to be a year old at birth. She was the fourth of six children of Charlie Soong, a wealthy businessman and former Methodist missionary from Hainan, and his wife Ni Kwei-tseng (倪桂珍; Ní Guìzhēn). Mei-ling's siblings were eldest sister Ai-ling, second sister Ching-ling, who later became Madame Sun Yat-sen, elder brother Tse-ven, usually known as T. V.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Soong, and younger brothers Tse-liang (T.L.) and Tse-an (T.A.). In Shanghai, Mei-ling attended the McTyeire...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Albert Luthuli — Contemporary (Born in 1898) (1898): Pioneering anti-apartheid activist and leader of the ANC in South Africa.
• Alexander Calder — Contemporary (Born in 1898) (1898): Pioneering American sculptor celebrated for kinetic mobiles and monumental abstract forms.
• Alvar Aalto — Contemporary (Born in 1898) (1898): Pioneering Finnish architect whose total art approach defined modern Nordic design.
• Alberto Sordi — Contemporary (Died in 2003) (2003): Pillar of Italian Cinema, master of Commedia all'italiana comedy.
• Althea Gibson — Contemporary (Died in 2003) (2003): Pioneering American tennis and golf star who broke racial barriers in sports.
• Art Carney — Contemporary (Died in 2003) (2003): Esteemed American actor and comedian, celebrated for his iconic roles.
• Aleksandr Popov (physicist) — Shared historical date (03-04 · Born) (1859): Pioneering Russian physicist credited with early radio receiving technology.
• Alexander Belyaev — Shared historical date (03-04 · Born) (1884): Pioneering Soviet science fiction writer, known as 'Russia's Jules Verne'
• Alex Gibney — Shared historical date (10-23 · Born) (1953): Acclaimed American documentary filmmaker known for investigative works on power and belief.
• Ang Lee — Shared historical date (10-23 · Born) (1954): Acclaimed Taiwanese filmmaker known for exploring deep, repressed human emotions.
• 1898 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1898
• March 4 (03-04) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 4
• 2003 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2003
• October 23 (10-23) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on October 23

Frequently Asked Questions about Soong Mei-ling