21 Facts About Soong Mei-ling

Soong Mei-ling, known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek or Madame Chiang, was a Chinese political figure who was First Lady of the Republic of China, the wife of President Chiang Kai-shek of the Republic of China.

Soong Mei-ling was active in the civic life of her country and held many honorary and active positions, including chairwoman of Fu Jen Catholic University.

Soong Mei-ling was born in Song family home, a traditional house called Neishidi, in Pudong, Shanghai, China.

Soong Mei-ling was the fourth of six children of Charlie Soong, a wealthy businessman and former Methodist missionary from Hainan, and his wife Ni Kwei-tseng.

Soong Mei-ling briefly attended Fairmount College in Monteagle, Tennessee in 1910.

Soong Mei-ling graduated from Wellesley as one of the 33 "Durant Scholars" on June 19,1917, with a major in English literature and minor in philosophy.

Soong Mei-ling was a member of Tau Zeta Epsilon, Wellesley's Arts and Music Society.

Soong Mei-ling was a member of the Legislative Yuan from 1930 to 1932 and Secretary-General of the Chinese Aeronautical Affairs Commission from 1936 to 1938.

In 1934, Soong Mei-ling was given a villa in Kuling town, Lu Mountain.

Soong Mei-ling was deeply involved in the project and even picked all of the teachers herself.

Soong Mei-ling referred to these children as her "warphans" and made them a personal cause.

Soong Mei-ling made several tours to the United States to lobby support for the Nationalists' war effort.

Soong Mei-ling drew crowds as large as 30,000 people and in 1943 made the cover of TIME magazine for a third time.

Soong Mei-ling dressed ostentatiously during her tours to seek foreign aid, bringing dozens of suitcases filled with Chanel handbags, pearl-decorated shoes, and other fancy garments on a visit to the White House.

Soong Mei-ling's approach shocked United States First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and prompted resentment from many officials in the Republic of China government.

Soong Mei-ling was a Patron of the International Red Cross Committee, honorary chair of the British United Aid to China Fund, and First Honorary Member of the Bill of Rights Commemorative Society.

Soong Mei-ling was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1975 and would undergo two mastectomies in Taiwan.

Soong Mei-ling kept a residence in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, where she vacationed in the summer.

Soong Mei-ling again returned to the US and made a rare public appearance in 1995 when she attended a reception held on Capitol Hill in her honor in connection with celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Soong Mei-ling sold her Long Island estate in 2000 and spent the rest of her life in a Gracie Square apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan owned by her niece.

Soong Mei-ling's remains were interred at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York, pending an eventual burial with her late husband who was entombed in Cihu, Taiwan.