Weng Wenhao

Weng Wenhao (; 26 July 1889 – 27 January 1971), courtesy name Yongni , was a Chinese geologist and politician. One of the earliest modern Chinese geologists, he is regarded as the founder of modern Chinese geology and the father of modern Chinese oil industry. From May to November 1948, Weng served as President of the Executive Yuan (Premier) of the Republic of China.

Life Early years

He was born in 1889 in Cixi, Zhejiang in late Qing dynasty. His father was a local businessman.

In 1902, he earned the xiucai degree in the Imperial Examination at the age of only 13 He later studied at a French Catholic school in Shanghai. He earned his doctorate in geology from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium in 1912. He was the first Chinese person to hold a doctoral degree in geology from a Western university.

ROC period After returning to China in 1912, Weng served as Minister of Mine Industry and Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, in the Beiyang Government. He was a professor (and director from 1914) of the National Research Institute of Geography. Together with Ding Wenjiang, he founded the new National Geological Survey.

He was also a professor of geology in both Beijing University and Tsinghua University.

The founder of Chinese modern geophysics - (翁文波), an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is his cousin.

(翁心植), academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, is his nephew.

Academic achievements & activities One of the founders of modern Chinese geography; Set up modern Chinese oil industry; Studies of the Peking Man; Studies of earthquake in China.

Major works Studies of Earthquakes in Gansu Procince (《甘肃地震考》) A Brief Record of Minerals in China (《中国矿产志略》) Literary Collection of Zhuizhi (《椎指集》) Mourn for Mr. Ding Zai-Jun (《追悼丁在君先生》) Earthquake (《地震》) Quadrumana Fossils in China (《中国灵长类动物化石》) The First Record on Chinese Mine Industry (《第一次中国矿业纪要》) Paleozoic Plant Fossils in the Middle Part of Shanxi Province (《山西中部古生代植物化石》) An Elementary Introduction to Earthquake (《地震浅说》) Lectures on Geology (《地质学讲义》)