CHARLES JONES SOONGCHARLES JONES SOONG

HAN CHAO-SHUNHAN CHAO-SHUN

1866-19181866-1918

The BeginningThe Beginning

• Charles was born on the Chinese Charles was born on the Chinese island of Hainan in 1866island of Hainan in 1866

• His birth name was Han-Chao-ShunHis birth name was Han-Chao-Shun

• Went to work as a servant for Went to work as a servant for relatives at the age of 9relatives at the age of 9

• Han tired of the situation, set off to Han tired of the situation, set off to assist his uncles Chinese apparel shop assist his uncles Chinese apparel shop in Bostonin Boston

The TransitionThe Transition

• After working in Boston Han met two After working in Boston Han met two Chinese cousins B.C. Wen and S.C. NewChinese cousins B.C. Wen and S.C. New

• The cousins were from Shanghai sent to The cousins were from Shanghai sent to get an American education.get an American education.

• The boys convinced Han that education The boys convinced Han that education was the key to success.was the key to success.

• Han decided that was what he wanted and Han decided that was what he wanted and informed his uncle that he was leaving to informed his uncle that he was leaving to pursue an education.pursue an education.

The TravelsThe Travels• One year after going to Boston at the age One year after going to Boston at the age

of 13 Han set off.of 13 Han set off.

• He stowed away on a ship and met the He stowed away on a ship and met the Captain Eric Gabrielson a faithful Christian Captain Eric Gabrielson a faithful Christian man.man.

• The captain decided that Han-Chao-Shun The captain decided that Han-Chao-Shun was too long so he changed it to Charlie was too long so he changed it to Charlie Sun.Sun.

• Charlie convinced the captain he was 15, Charlie convinced the captain he was 15, became a paid member of the crew and became a paid member of the crew and moved to North Carolina with Gabrielson.moved to North Carolina with Gabrielson.

The MissionaryThe Missionary• Once in North Carolina Charlie had his Once in North Carolina Charlie had his

name modified one last time to Charles name modified one last time to Charles Jones Soong.Jones Soong.

• Charles became involved in the Methodist Charles became involved in the Methodist church and they embraced him. Seeing in church and they embraced him. Seeing in him the potential to be a great missionary him the potential to be a great missionary with the right education.with the right education.

• Julian Carr a Tobacco Baron provided the Julian Carr a Tobacco Baron provided the finances to send Charles to Duke finances to send Charles to Duke University (Trinity College).University (Trinity College).

• Charles finished his work at Vanderbilt Charles finished his work at Vanderbilt University in 1885 and returned to China University in 1885 and returned to China to begin his Missionary work.to begin his Missionary work.

The FamilyThe Family

• Once in China Charles met up with the two Once in China Charles met up with the two cousins from Boston. They introduced him cousins from Boston. They introduced him to their sister-in-law Ni Kwei-Tseng, a very to their sister-in-law Ni Kwei-Tseng, a very wealthy western scholar.wealthy western scholar.

• Charles became a member of the “Red Charles became a member of the “Red Gang” a secret society who controlled the Gang” a secret society who controlled the power in Shanghai.power in Shanghai.

• In 1887 Charles married the sister, had In 1887 Charles married the sister, had their first child and realized that Missionary their first child and realized that Missionary salary was not going to support his family. salary was not going to support his family.

The New BusinessThe New Business• Charles had acquired many connections over Charles had acquired many connections over

the years between his travels, and came to the the years between his travels, and came to the conclusion that he wanted to be a conclusion that he wanted to be a Businessman.Businessman.

• Charles recognized that the sale of bibles to Charles recognized that the sale of bibles to the poor Chinese was problematic. The bibles the poor Chinese was problematic. The bibles were much too expensive for most the were much too expensive for most the population.population.

• With the help of his wives wealth, and funds With the help of his wives wealth, and funds from Julian Carr, Charles started his own from Julian Carr, Charles started his own printing business focusing on printing Bibles.printing business focusing on printing Bibles.

• In no time Charles had become very wealthy In no time Charles had become very wealthy from this brilliant business venture.from this brilliant business venture.

The New CareerThe New Career

• Since Charles had spent so much time in the U.S. Since Charles had spent so much time in the U.S. he was recognized as a commodity to any he was recognized as a commodity to any company in China doing business with the U.S.company in China doing business with the U.S.

• Kou-Koong was a Noodle business trying to Kou-Koong was a Noodle business trying to interface with America.interface with America.

• Charles was fluent in both languages but more Charles was fluent in both languages but more importantly his character created a strong importantly his character created a strong understanding of both cultures.understanding of both cultures.

• Charles was the perfect candidate to represent Charles was the perfect candidate to represent the Kou Koong Family interests.the Kou Koong Family interests.

• He took and kept this position for the rest of his He took and kept this position for the rest of his life, which added greatly to his wealth, and life, which added greatly to his wealth, and connections.connections.

Family DynastyFamily Dynasty

• Charles and his wife had 3 girls and 3 boys, who all Charles and his wife had 3 girls and 3 boys, who all achieved and dominated success in the future of achieved and dominated success in the future of China.China.

Three daughters “The Soong Sisters”Three daughters “The Soong Sisters”• Ai-LingAi-Ling• Ching-LingChing-Ling• May-LingMay-LingThree BrothersThree Brothers• T.V. SoongT.V. Soong• T.L. SoongT.L. Soong• T.A. SoongT.A. Soong

The Soong SistersThe Soong Sisters• ““Once upon a time there were 3 sisters: One Once upon a time there were 3 sisters: One

Loved Power, One Loved Money, and One Loved Power, One Loved Money, and One Loved ChinaLoved China.”.”

• The oldest The oldest Ai-LingAi-Ling married into a wealthy banking married into a wealthy banking family. It was said that “if she had been born a family. It was said that “if she had been born a man, she would have been running China.” She man, she would have been running China.” She dominated the family destiny.dominated the family destiny.

• Ching-LingChing-Ling married her fathers close friend and married her fathers close friend and leader in the revolutionary movement, Dr. Sun leader in the revolutionary movement, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. She became Vice-Chairman of Mao Tse-Yat-Sen. She became Vice-Chairman of Mao Tse-Tsung’s Peoples Republic.Tsung’s Peoples Republic.

• May-Ling,May-Ling, married Chiang Kai-Shek, leader of married Chiang Kai-Shek, leader of Nationalist China a bitter rival of Mao Tse-tung. Nationalist China a bitter rival of Mao Tse-tung. Loved by Americans she was recognized among Loved by Americans she was recognized among the 10 most popular and respected people on the 10 most popular and respected people on earth.earth.

The Soong BrothersThe Soong Brothers

• T.V. Soong became Prime Minister of T.V. Soong became Prime Minister of the Nationalist China and for some time the Nationalist China and for some time was considered the “richest man on was considered the “richest man on earth.”earth.”

• T.L. Soong and T.A. Soong not as T.L. Soong and T.A. Soong not as notorious as the rest of the family, T.L. notorious as the rest of the family, T.L. Operated a family bank in New York, Operated a family bank in New York, while T.A. operated a bank in San while T.A. operated a bank in San Francisco.Francisco.

The EndThe End

• Charles died in 1918 at the age of 52Charles died in 1918 at the age of 52• Recognized as one of the greatest Recognized as one of the greatest

merchant financiers of all time.merchant financiers of all time.• A very resourceful man, was able to A very resourceful man, was able to

collect wealthy people and networks collect wealthy people and networks of influential contacts. He had an of influential contacts. He had an ability to get support from people ability to get support from people that in the end he could convert into that in the end he could convert into profitable ventures.profitable ventures.