Lin Yongsheng

Lin Yongsheng, courtesy name Zhongqing was a Qing-era Chinese Vice Admiral. He was the commander of the Left Fleet of the Beiyang Fleet during the First Sino-Japanese War, serving aboard the Jingyuan.

Education and organization Lin Yongsheng was born into the prestigious Lin family which was a prominent family within Houguan County. In 1867, Lin was admitted to the first phase of the navigation department of . In 1871, he was transferred to the training ship Jianwei and served on the ship after graduation. In 1875, he was transferred to the cruiser Yangwu, and later transferred back to the Naval Academy as a teacher with the rank of ensign.

In 1876, he was one of the first batch of 12 international students who traveled to the United Kingdom to study abroad. He arrived in the UK the following year and was admitted to the Navigation Department of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. Lin then took an internship on the and took the ship to travel the Mediterranean Sea and other places. According to the order of official ranks in the Beiyang Navy Charter, Lin Yongsheng was the sixth commander. Around this time, Lin was noted as being honest and kind-hearted and was described as " having a gentle and easy-going personality... never reprimanding others in public ." Afterwards, the first officer and the second officer on board were shot and killed one after another. At 17:29 on the same day, the ship suffered heavy damage, capsized and sank. Only 17 people on board survived. After the war, the Qing court, in recognition of his service, paid compensation according to the rules of the admiral and posthumously promoted him to Vice Admiral.