Yuan Shikai

Yuan Shikai (Courtesy Weiting 慰亭; Pseudonym: Rong'an 容庵　) (September 16, 1859 –  June 6, 1916) was a Chinese military official and politician during the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China. He is reviled in Chinese culture for taking advantage of both the Qing imperial court and the Republicans. He is known in Chinese history for his authoritarian control based on military dictatorship; a presidency with sweeping powers between 1912–1915; and his proclamation by democratic process as  Emperor in 1916. His stupendous political might and the preeminence of his personal qualities has remained a hotly debated subject, especially after the premiere of the controversial TV series Towards the Republic.
See more at Wikipedia.org...