Charles William Joseph Emile Le Gendre

Charles Le Gendre was a French-born American officer and diplomat who served as advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Empire of Japan from 1872 to 1875 and as advisor to Emperor Gojong of the Korean Empire from 1890 to 1899. He was also a brevet brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War, where he was wounded twice and lost his left eye and nose. He was appointed as the American consul at Xiamen, China in 1866 and later became involved in the negotiations between China and Japan over the sovereignty of Taiwan. He was instrumental in persuading the Japanese government to adopt a policy of colonization and expansion in Asia. He also wrote several books and articles on the history, culture and politics of China, Japan and Korea. He was a respected and influential figure in the diplomatic circles of East Asia until his death of apoplexy in Seoul in 1899.