H. C. Zen (; 1886–1961) was a Chinese politician, academic and educator who served as president of National Sichuan University from 1935–1937. He was a professor of Chemistry and served as vice president of what is now Nanjing University from 1923–1925. He was a founding member of the Science Society of China, a major science organization in the modern history of China initiated by Chinese students at Cornell University in 1914, and served as its president from 1914 to 1923.

Biography

He earned a Bachelor's in chemistry from Cornell in 1916 and a Master's from Columbia University in 1917. Chen Hengzhe and her husband Ren Hongjun Peking University Alumni

Chen Hengzhe and her husband Ren Hongjun Peking University Alumni

Prior to his studies in the United States, he served as the secretary of

Sun Yat-sen Sun Yat-sen (; also known by several other names; 12 November 1866 – 12 March 1925)Singtao daily. Saturday edition. 23 October 2010. section A18. Sun Yat-sen Xinhai revolution 100th anniversary edition . was a Chinese politician who serve ...

, the founding father of the

Republic of China Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...

while he was the Provisional President in 1912. During his lifetime, he had served in various government agencies and offices and had helped to promote science in China, including serving as secretary general of the

Academia Sinica Academia Sinica (AS, la, 1=Academia Sinica, 3=Chinese Academy; ), headquartered in Nangang, Taipei, is the national academy of Taiwan. Founded in Nanking, the academy supports research activities in a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from ...

from 1938 to 1942. He was married to

Chen Hengzhe Chen Hengzhe (; 12 July 1890—1976), pen name Sophia H. Z. Chen (), was a pioneering writer in modern vernacular Chinese literature, a leader in the New Culture Movement, and the first female professor at a Chinese university. Chen is known for a ...

, who was the first woman to be a professor at a Chinese university. His eldest daughter was the historian

E-tu Zen Sun E-tu Zen Sun (24 July 1921 – 28 June 2021) 孫任以都 was a historian, especially of "economic history of pre-20th century China." Biography The eldest daughter of Chen Hengzhe and H. C. Zen, she was born in Beijing. She arrived in th ...

References

Scientists from Chongqing Cornell University alumni Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences alumni Academic staff of Sichuan University Academic staff of Nanjing University Commercial Press people Presidents of Sichuan University 1886 births 1961 deaths Secretaries to Sun Yat-sen {{China-academic-bio-stub