Lê Chất

Early life Lê Chất was born in Phù Mỹ District, Bình Định Province. He was a son-in-law of Lê Trung.

In 1798, Lê Trung was purged by Emperor Cảnh Thịnh.

Career Chất played an important role in the pacification of the Tây Sơn dynasty. He was ordered to build Imperial City of Huế together with Phạm Văn Nhân and Nguyễn Văn Khiêm in 1803.

In 1810, Chất was appointed Assistant Viceroy of Bắc Thành (Hiệp tổng trấn Bắc Thành) and became the assistant of Nguyễn Huỳnh Đức.

He was elevated to viceroy in 1818. Bắc Thành dư địa chí, an official geographical record of Tonkin, was compiled during his term.

Legacy He died in 1826, and was granted the position thiếu phó ("Junior Tutor") posthumously, and received the posthumous name Trung Nghị (忠毅). His four sons: Lê Cẩn, Lê Trương, Lê Thường and Lê Kỵ, were beheaded.

In 1847, Emperor Tự Đức gave him a royal pardon. He was rehabilitated in 1868. He was worshipped at Lăng Ông Bà Chiểu ("Tomb of the Marshal in Ba Chieu") together with Lê Văn Duyệt and Phan Thanh Giản.

In 1910, the colonial government dug road from Quán Thánh Temple to Residence of the Governor-General to supply electricity. The workers found the tomb of Lê Chất accidentally. Later, his remains were reburied beside Hanoi Zoo.

Hậu Quân Chất Street in Hanoi was named after him during the French colonial period. The street was renamed to Mai Xuân Thưởng Street after th August Revolution.