Jiang Zhongyuan

Jiang Zhongyuan , courtesy name Changrui, was a scholar and soldier from Hunan who fought for the Qing and against the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom during the Taiping Rebellion.

Early life Jiang Zhongyuan was born on August 1, 1812, in Xinning, Hunan. He passed the provincial examination in 1837 and became a juren in 1837. For this he was awarded an expectant magistracy.

Jiang was appointed acting magistrate of Xiushi from 1849 to 1850 and then became magistrate of Lishui. Jiang was able to win a battle in Guangxi and was promoted to the rank of first-class sub-prefect.

Jiang was less successful in stopping the Taiping's subsequent overland invasion of Hunan; while Jiang was able to besiege some Taiping in Chenzhou for over a month, but the Taiping ultimately broke through and advanced to Changsha, the capital of Hunan. Before departing for the military headquarters in Jiangnan, he drafted an eight-point memorial on the military situation and submitted it to the throne. Jiang himself was wounded and captured. He committed suicide by drowning on January 15, 1854.

Posthumous accolades Jiang was posthumously granted the rank of governor-general, granted two minor hereditary ranks, and canonized as Zhonglie.

Family Jiang was the oldest of four brothers. Each of his brothers and several of his cousins also participated in the war against the Taipings, two of whom were eventually canonized.