- I was born to a family of scholars in Xingyi, Guizhou, in 1837
- As a precocious student I excelled from a young age, passing my first civil service examination aged 12 and completing them all by age 26.
- Between 1862 and 1882 I worked as an educational scholar, but after this rose steadily to become a national leader in China, achieving the post of grand secretary and grand councilor by 1907.
- A noted reformer, my achievements in various roles include a comprehensive reform of the Chinese education system, moves to industrialise regions under my control and some reforms to the Chinese army in Nanjing.
- A major feature of my career was an apparent immunity to major political setbacks, even managing to survive the Boxer Rebellion in 1900 with credit.
On This Day
1710 – The Statute of Anne, the first law governing and regulating copyright, comes into force in Great Britain, thus providing protection for the original work of artists and many other professions.
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HistoryWow’s Quick Shot Videos
A short, sharp hit of history in video format. Acclaimed Irish playwright and novelist Oscar Wilde was the toast of London society in the 1890s until things came decidedly unstuck through an association with a young British aristocrat, Lord Alfred Douglas, known as ‘Bosie’.
The source for this HistoryWow video is: Oscar and Bosie - A Fatal Passion by Trevor Fisher; General Historical Texts.
More Quick Shot Videos on HistoryWow's YouTube Channel: 
Who Am I?
- I reorganized the Persian Empire and consolidated its frontiers.
- In 515 BCE I crossed the Bosphorus and led an army against the Scythians.
- The revolt of the Greek cities of Asia Minor caused me to undertake the first Persian invasion of Greece in 490.
- In this conflict, the Persians were defeated at Marathon.
- I succeeded Cambyses.
Last week’s answer:
Francisco Goya (1746-1828)
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HistoryWow’s Highlighted Historical Quotation
“If a cat gets hold of a German irregular verb – goodbye cat”.
American humorist and author Mark Twain. Twain became rich from his writing and lecturing but lost a fortune on business ventures. To pay off his considerable debts he went on a world lecturing tour which was enormously successful. His visit to Germany elicited many humorous observations.Source: Mark Twain by Ken Burns
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HistoryWow’s Featured Historical Figure of Note
Nicholas Sebastien Roch (1741-1794)French intellectual and man of letters, famed for his witty conversations, which made him welcome at the French Court and the Jacobin Club alike. During the Reign of Terror he committed suicide. The gems of his wit are recorded in his uncompleted Maximes et Pensees.
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