Feng Guifen 1809-1874

A native of Wuxian, Jiangsu province, he received his jinshi degree in 1840, and began his career as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy. He had a strong interest in such subjects as astrology, geography, and military affairs. When serving under Li Hongzhang, he suggested to Li to set up a school for Western languages and science in Shanghai. The school was later incorporated into the Jiangnan Arsenal. His Petitions from Jiaobin lu, written between 1860 and 1861, was published posthumously by his son in 1885. The book had a very strong influence on the late-Qing reformist movement.

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