Yuan Shikai Abdicates

Date: March 22, 1916 • Location: Beijing, China

Yuan Shikai abdicates as Emperor of China, restoring the Republic and returning to the Presidency.

Yuan Shikai was a Chinese general and statesman. As leader of the Beiyang Army, he played a decisive role in securing the abdication of the Qing court. He served as the second provisional president and the first formal president of the Republic of China, with his administration known as the Beiyang government. He declared himself Emperor of the Chinese Empire in December 1915 but was forced to abdicate in March 1916.