Zuo Zongtang (左宗棠, Xiang Chinese: [tso˧˩ tsoŋ˧ tan˩˧]; Wade-Giles spelling: Tso Tsung-t'ang; November 10, 1812 – September 5, 1885), sometimes referred to as General Tso, was a Chinese statesman and army officer of the late Qing dynasty.
Born in Xiangyin County, Hunan Province, Zuo started his career in the Qing military by participating in the campaign against the Taiping Rebellion in 1851. After capturing Hangzhou from the Taiping rebels in 1864, he was enfeoffed as a first class count. In 1866, Zuo oversaw the construction of the Foochow Arsenal and naval academy. That same year, he was reassigned to serve as the Viceroy of Shaan-Gan, where he oversaw industrialization in Gansu Province. In 1867, he was appointed as an Imperial Commissioner in charge of military affairs in Gansu.
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