Background
Mr. Fan was born in Chinyung, Zhejiang, China in 1886.
Mr. Fan was born in Chinyung, Zhejiang, China in 1886.
His early training was in Chinese classics and Fan Kwang passed the examinations for a Hsiu Tsai (Bachelor of Arts) degree. He went to Japan in 1904 and attended the Central University of Japan from which he graduated in political science in 1909.
While in Japan Mr. Fan joined the Tungminghui (revolutionary party). He returned to China in 1909 and since then held the following positions: judicial secretary of the Provisional Government. Nanjing (Nanking), member of Zhejiang (Chekiang) Provincial Assembly, magistrate of the Kaishing, Zhejiang (Chekiang), secretary to the director's office of the Sino-Russian Conference, counsellor of the National Wine and Tobacco Bureau, secretary of the Salt Administration, counsellor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, secretary-general of the Longhai (Lunghai) Railway Administration and concurrently, director of its branch office in Zhengzhou (Chengchow), Henan (Honan).
He was a member of the committee for the examination of candidates to Consular and Diplomatic posts and later director of the Administrative Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Then he was appointed Superintendent of Hangzhou (Hangchow) Customs.