Biography Enomoto Takeaki

1 biography

1.1 life
1.2 boshin war , meiji restoration
1.3 meiji politician

biography
early life

enomoto born member of samurai family in direct service of tokugawa clan in shitaya district of edo (modern taitō, tokyo). enomoto started learning dutch in 1850s, , after japan s forced opening commodore matthew perry in 1854, studied @ tokugawa shogunate s naval training center in nagasaki , @ tsukiji warship training center in edo.

at age of 26, enomoto sent netherlands study western techniques in naval warfare , procure western technologies. stayed in europe 1862 1867, , became fluent in both dutch , english languages.

enomoto returned japan on board kaiyō maru, steam warship purchased netherlands shogunal government. during stay in europe, enomoto had realized telegraph important means of communication in future, , started planning system connect edo , yokohama. upon return, enomoto promoted kaigun fukusosai (海軍副総裁), second highest rank in tokugawa navy, @ age of 31. received court title of izumi-no-kami (和泉守).

boshin war , meiji restoration

enomoto takeaki in ezo, aged 32 (1868-1869)

during meiji restoration, after surrender of edo in 1868 during boshin war forces loyal satchō alliance, enomoto refused deliver warships, , escaped hakodate in hokkaido remainder of tokugawa navy , handful of french military advisers , leader jules brunet. fleet of 8 steam warships strongest in japan @ time.

enomoto hoped create independent country under rule of tokugawa family in hokkaidō, meiji government refused accept partition of japan. on 27 january 1869, tokugawa loyalists declared foundation of republic of ezo , elected enomoto president.

the meiji government forces invaded hokkaidō , defeated enomoto s forces in naval battle of hakodate. on 27 june 1869, republic of ezo collapsed, , hokkaidō came under rule of central government headed meiji emperor.

as meiji politician

after surrender, enomoto arrested, accused of high treason , imprisoned. however, leaders of new meiji government (largely @ insistence of kuroda kiyotaka) pardoned enomoto in 1872, realizing various talents , accumulated knowledge of use. enomoto became 1 of few former tokugawa loyalists made transition new ruling elite, politics @ time dominated men chōshū , satsuma, had strong bias against outsiders in general, , former tokugawa retainers in particular. however, enomoto exception, , rose within new ruling clique, higher status other member of former tokugawa government.

in 1874, enomoto given rank of vice-admiral in fledgling imperial japanese navy. following year, sent russia special envoy negotiate treaty of st. petersburg. successful conclusion of treaty received in japan , further raised enomoto s prestige within ruling circles, , fact enomoto had been chosen such important mission seen evidence of reconciliation between former foes in government.

in 1880, enomoto became navy minister (海軍卿). in 1885, diplomatic skills again called upon assisting itō hirobumi in concluding convention of tientsin qing china. afterwards, enomoto held series of high posts in japanese government. japan s first minister of communications (1885–1888) after introduction of cabinet system in 1885. minister of agriculture , commerce 1894–1897, minister of education 1889–1890 , foreign minister 1891-1892.

in 1887, enomoto ennobled rank of viscount under kazoku peerage system, , selected member of privy council.

enomoto active in promoting japanese emigration through settler colonies in pacific ocean , south , central america. in 1891, established — against of cabinet of matsukata masayoshi — section emigration in foreign ministry, task of encouraging emigration , finding new potential territories japanese settlement overseas. 2 years later, after leaving government, enomoto helped establish private organization, colonial association , promote external trade , emigration.

enomoto died in 1908 @ age of 72. grave @ temple of kisshō-ji, bunkyō-ku, tokyo. (35°43′39″n 139°45′13″e / 35.727425°n 139.75364°e / 35.727425; 139.75364)