Background
Dr. Tsur Chi-lien was born in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China in 1877.
Dr. Tsur Chi-lien was born in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China in 1877.
After graduating from St. John’s University of Shanghai Mr. Tsur went to England and attended Edinburgh University and received the degree of Master of Arts. Shortly afterwards he studied in Germany and specialized in political science and was awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
Upon the completion of education in Germany Dr. Tsur returned to China and entered the government service. In 1910 he accompanied Chang Tsung-hsiang, a former Chinese Minister to Japan, to Germany to study German constitutional and municipal governments. They returned in the latter part of 1911 when the First Revolution resulting in the establishment of the present Republic commenced.
After the overthrow of the Manchu Regime, a law compilation bureau was established at Peking and Dr. Tsur was appointed a councillor of it. This position he held for two years.
In 1914 Dr. Tsur was appointed Third Secretary to the Chinese Legation in Japan. At the time when he was recalled to be Commissioner to Australia in charge of German and Austrian prisoners in June, 1918 he was Secretary to the Chinese Legation in Tokyo.
After the decision to deport enemy subjects in China to Australia was reversed, Dr. Tsur was made a member of the Foreign Office. For a while he was Acting Secretary.
In 1919 Dr. Tsur was appointed Consul-General to New York. In the winter of the same year he returned to China. In June 1920 he was relieved of the New York post.
In April 1922 Dr. Tsur was appointed Consul General at Ottawa, Canada. In September 1923 Dr. Tsur returned to China upon the death of his father at Shanghai.