Background
Mr. M. K. Chen was born at Minuhsien, Fukjian Province in 1887.
Mr. M. K. Chen was born at Minuhsien, Fukjian Province in 1887.
Mr. M. K. Chen being a member of an educated family he was given thorough education in his youth. He went to the United States of America in 1908 for higher education. Soon after his arrival, he joined the Cook Academy, where he graduated in 1909. Dr. Wu Ting-fang, then Chinese Minister to America granted to him a government scholarship in recognition of his good record.
In 1909 Mr. Chen joined Cornell University where he specialized in civil engineering. During his attendance at that university he wrote a thesis on “Hydraulic Surges in Stand Pipes.” In 1911 he was chosen as captain of a survey party. One year later he graduated from Cornell After his graduation he returned to China and was appointed Technical Expert of the Bureau of the Construction of the Commercial Mart at Pukow.
Mr. Chen was a teacher at the College for Naval Officers at Nanjing. In 1914 he became assistant engineer of the Nanking-Changsha Railway. In 1915 he headed the survey party for the Keemen-Tenchi section. In 1917 be was appointed senior assistant engineer of the Chuchow-Chow Railway and while in its service, was chief of party. In 1918 he was appointed Directorate-General of Flood Relief and Conservancy. Three months later he became assistant engineer-in-charge of survey under the Chihli River Commission with its headquarters at Tianjin. In May 1920 he resignned this position in order to accept the appointment of engieer-in-chief to the directorate-general for the construction of the Hulutao port.
