Biographies

Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石; Pinyin: Jiǎng Jièshí; Cantonese: Jyäng Kī-shĕk;) (1887–1975) was the leader of the Republic of China, 1927-1975. He headed the Kuomintang Party (KMT) (or "Guomindang Party" (GMD) or Nationalist Party). His KMT controlled mainland China after he defeated regional warlords in the 1920s. The Japanese took over Manchuria in 1931, and invaded the rest of China in 1937, quickly controlling the major cities and seacoast.

Chiang was the Supreme Commander of the China-Burma-India (CBI)Theater for the Allies in 1941-45, but was ineffective in driving back the Japanese. After the defeat of Japan in 1945 the KMT battled the Chinese Communists under Mao Zedong, who won in 1948, forcing Chiang and his KMT to the offshore island of Taiwan, which Chiang ruled until his death. A modernizer who embraced Christianity and built a strong and lucrative alliance with the United States, Chiang could not overcome the corruption which had been tolerated by the KMT in China. After relocating to Taiwan, he overcame the corruption there and made the island a model of economic prosperity and capitalism.

Eric Liddell (January 16, 1902 – February 21, 1945) became known as the 'Flying Scotsman' due to his sporting prowess. He won gold at the 1924 Paris Olympic games in the 400 metres event. He became immortalised in the award winning film 'Chariots of Fire' which tells the story of the British Olympic team at the 1924 games. 

Sun Yat-sen (孫逸仙 Sūn Yìxiān) (b.1866 d.1925), is styled as 'the father of the modern Chinese nation' or Gúofù (國父). Within China he is better known by the name Sūn Zhōngshān (孫中山). He was the leader of the revolutionary movement that overthrew the Qing dynasty of China in 1911. He founded the Republic of China and was leader of the Kuomintang party (KMT). However he never held effective power in China himself, because he was too trusting and naive in dealings with leading generals and politicians. His republican ideas and modernizing vision based on his philosophy of the Three Principles of the People proved central to China, and he became an iconic hero to the Chinese diaspora across the world.