Zeng Zhaolun (; 25 May 1899 – 8 December 1967), also known as Chao-Lun Tseng, was a Chinese chemist and politician who served as vice-minister of Education after the establishment of the Communist State in the 1950s. He was an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

Biography

Zeng was born in Heye, Shuangfeng County, Hunan, on January 27, 1909. His great-grandfather was the second younger brother of Zeng Guofan and a general in the

Qing Empire The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing,, was a Manchu-led imperial dynasty of China and the last orthodox dynasty in Chinese history. It emerged from the Later Jin dynasty founded by the Jianzhou Jurchens, a Tungusic-speak ...

. His father Zeng Guangzuo () was an official in the Qing Empire. His mother Chen Jiying () was the daughter of Hunan Provincial Governor

Chen Baozhen Chen Baozhen (; 1831–1900) was a Chinese statesman and reformer during the Qing dynasty. Chen was born in Tingzhou (Now Shanghang County). His family originated from Xiushui County in Jiujiang. He obtained the second highest degree in the impe ...

and the aunt of Chen Yinke. Zeng had seven brothers and sisters. His eldest brother Zeng Zhaocheng () graduated from Harvard University. His younger brother Zeng Zhaojie () graduated from the

Great China University Great may refer to: Descriptions or measurements * Great, a relative measurement in physical space, see Size * Greatness, being divine, majestic, superior, majestic, or transcendent People * List of people known as "the Great" *Artel Great (born ...

. His younger sister Zeng Zhaoyu graduated from the University of London and was an archaeologist and museologist. After graduating from Tsinghua University in 1920, he pursued graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States. After returning to China, he taught at the National Central University. In 1931 he became a professor at

Peking University Peking University (PKU; ) is a public research university in Beijing, China. The university is funded by the Ministry of Education. Peking University was established as the Imperial University of Peking in 1898 when it received its royal charter ...

. In the summer of 1946,

Wu Ta-You Wu Ta-You () (27 September 1907 – 4 March 2000) was a Chinese physicist and writer who worked in the United States, Canada, mainland China and Taiwan. He has been called the Father of Chinese Physics. Early life and education Wu was born i ...

, Zeng Zhaolun and Hua Luogeng visited the United States to inspect the manufacturing process of the

atomic bomb A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission (fission bomb) or a combination of fission and fusion reactions (thermonuclear bomb), producing a nuclear explosion. Both bomb ...

. After the defeat of the Nationalists by the Communists in Chinese Civil War in 1949, he chose to stay in mainland China. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Zeng was appointed Vice Minister of Education. In 1957, Zeng was labeled as a rightist during the Anti-Rightist Campaign. In March 1958, he was transferred to Wuhan University as a teacher. When the Cultural Revolution began in 1966, Zeng was persecuted as one of "Zeng Guofan's descendants". On August 25, 1966, his wife Yu Dayin () committed suicide after being beaten and humiliated. On December 8, 1967, Zeng died of cancer at home.

Personal life

Zeng's wife Yu Dayin () was a professor at the Department of English,

, who was murdered by students during the Cultural Revolution.https://ywang.uchicago.edu/history/docs/2001_03_05.pdf

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zeng, Zhaolun 1899 births 1967 deaths Chemists from Hunan Chinese expatriates in the United States Educators from Hunan Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni Members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Academic staff of the National Central University Academic staff of Peking University People's Republic of China politicians from Hunan Politicians from Loudi Tsinghua University alumni Victims of the Anti-Rightist Campaign Victims of the Cultural Revolution Academic staff of Wuhan University