Career
He was the first known Irishman to hold a Chinese passport. Born in Durrus, West Cork, Hurley began to travel in his teens then in 1905 he started with the British Customs Service in Shanghai and travelled around until 1915. He was one of the few westerners to venture into the Sino-Russian war zone.
He learned Chinese and helped to train activists loyal to Sun Yat-sen, who came to power in 1912 and honoured Hurley with gifts and a Chinese passport.
lieutenant was described at the time as the most ambitious Irish film made to date. He was later involved in establishing Aer Lingus and what was to become the International Development Association. Hurley died in 1961.
