Charlie Soong

Charles Jones Soong (宋嘉樹 Pinyin: Sòng Jiāshù) (February 1863 – May 3, 1918), courtesy name Yaoru (耀如 Yàorú, hence his alternate name: Soong Yao-ju), was a Chinese businessman who first achieved prominence as a missionary in Shanghai. He was a close friend of Sun Yat-sen and a key player in the events that led to the Xinhai Revolution in 1911. His children became some of the most prominent people in the history of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China.

Early life

Charlie Soong was born as Han Jiaozhun (韓教準) in the western suburbs of Wenchang City in Hainan province as the third son of Han Hongyi (韓鴻翼 Hán Hóngyì) sometime between 1863 and 1866. He was a Wen Chang Hainanese, whose ancestors were Hakka people. At the age of 15, he sailed with his uncle to Boston in the United States and became a migrant worker. After working for his uncle for some time, he left on his own and was soon taken in by a group of Methodist missionaries. Soon thereafter he converted to the Christian faith and was baptized Charlie Jones Soon—Charlie Soon was probably an anglicized version of his given name Chiao-Shun, but there is more confusion towards from where he got his middle name Jones. It was not until years later that he added the extra letter to his surname, spelling it Soong.