Background
Mr. Chen was born in Zhejiang, China, in 1893.
Mr. Chen was born in Zhejiang, China, in 1893.
After his graduation from the University of Nanjing in 1915, Chen Yu-gwan devoted his time during 1915-1916 to the study of Chinese classics and in the Summer of 1916, he went to America as a private student and first entered the Case School of Applied Science in Cleveland, Ohio, as a special student in chemistry. Mr. Chen took postgraduate work under the direction of faculty of pure science of Columbia University in 1917, receiving his Master of Arts degree in 1918 and Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1922 and being awarded in 1929 the Columbia University Medal, granted to graduates who have secured their degrees at Columbia and have returned to their native lands and there rendered public service.
While in America, Mr. Chen was elected general-manager of the Chinese Students' Monthly from 1919 to 1920. Chen Yu-gwan was appointed chairman of the Chinese Committee for famine relief and drove to America between 1920 and 1921. He returned to China in 1922 and was appointed chief of the department of physics and chemistry at the Peking National Normal University (now Beijing Normal University) in 1925. During this time, he also served as dean of the administration and for two years as chairman of the university council, acting for a while as President of the institution. In the fall of 1925, he returned to the University of Nanjing and in 1926 was made dean of the College of Arts and Science.
Chen Yu-gwan was elected President of the University of Nanjing in 1927. He was elected President of the Chinese Chemical Society in 1933 and one of the ten specialists who were invited to attend the National Examination and Personnel Conference of the Central Government in November 1934.