Biography

Though related by marriage to the Qing dynasty, he accepted the creation of the Republic and served in its foreign ministry, having previously been the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Qing Dynasty as a member of Yuan Shikai's Cabinet. He served as ambassador to Russia, Japan, and France; and was a rival of Wu Tingfang. He was also a judge of the Permanent Court of International Justice.

After Duan Qirui was ousted from Beijing in 1926, Hu served briefly as acting president and premier.

Hu Weide's political career is unique in that his career did not end with the passage of power from one form of government to another. He was a prominent politician and diplomat in the late Qing Dynasty as well as the early Republic of China. His role in the Chinese diplomacy history is immense, although he is also considered by many as being responsible for the feeble diplomacy practiced by China. Hu was truly one of the first Chinese politicians with a strong grasp of global affairs. He graduated from the Shanghai Interpreters' College. His proficiency in English, French and Russian allowed him to pursue the study of these countries, which made him a specialist in these nations.

Hu Weide's stature in the Chinese and international diplomatic sphere can be gauged from the fact that he was a member of the Chinese delegation at the Treaty of Versailles and at The Hague Peace Conference. Although he did not receive praise for his work to bring democracy in China, he played a vital role in persuading the late Qing Government to relinquish power in favor of the new Republic.

生平

胡惟德在上海广方言馆学习后，于1888年（光绪14年）中戊子科举人。1890年（光绪16年），作为薛福成的随从，在驻英国公使馆任翻译学生，后升为随员。此后，历任驻美国公使馆参賛、驻俄国公使馆参赞。1902年（光绪28年）2月，代理驻俄国公使事。同年7月，升任出使俄国大臣。

1907年（光绪33年）9月，胡惟德归国任外务部右丞。翌年3月，任出使日本大臣。1910年（宣统2年），任海牙的常设仲裁法院仲裁员（当时中文译为「公断院公断员」）。同年5月，归国任外务部右侍郎。7月改任左侍郎，兼任帮办税务大臣。1911年（宣统3年）10月，任袁世凯内阁外务部副大臣、署理外务大臣。

1912年（民国元年）3月，任税务处督办，兼任第一次唐绍仪内阁的暂代外交总长。同年11月，任驻法国公使。民国3年（1914年）兼任驻西班牙公使、驻葡萄牙公使。1920年（民国9年）9月，改任驻日公使。1922年（民国11年）6月，解职归国。9月任外交部太平洋会议善后委员会理事。

1926年（民国15年）3月，胡惟德任贾德耀内阁外交总长，兼任关税特别会议全权大使。4月20日，段祺瑞辞任临时执政，贾辞任总理，胡惟德代理国务总理直到同年5月13日。1927年（民国16年）1月，任顾维钧内阁内务总长，同年6月去职。同年11月，任平政院院长及文官高等惩戒委员会委员长。1923年（民国17年），再度任常设仲裁法院仲裁员。

1933年（民国22年）11月24日，胡惟德病逝于北平，享年71岁。

家庭

胡惟德共有十二位子女，其中长子胡世泽、次子胡世熙、五子胡世勋均为外交官。四子胡世华则为数理逻辑学家，另一子胡世平为土木工程师。