1885-1900 – Laurent Lépissier
The first posts(1850 - 1880) : Shànghǎi, Wǔhàn, Zhèjiang et Níngbō
Émile-Laurent Lépissier (李坒丽 – Lǐ bì-lí), born on 25 February 1850 in Paris, is the son of Émile-Jean Lépissier and Maria Boissard.
He arrived in China at the end of 1867 with his sister Juliette and his mother Maria to join his father who was a professor at the Tóng Wén Guǎn (同文館).
After a year of studying the English and Chinese languages, in June 1869, at the age of 19, he joined the Revenues Department of the Imperial Maritime Customs Service (I.M.C.S) – (大清皇家海關總稅務司 – Dà Qīng huángjiā hǎiguān) as 4th Assistant B, one of the lowest ranks. Laurent was however part of the Indoor Staff, which was the elite of the I.M.C.S.
The Chinese customs were at that time run by Robert Hart, who was British.
Laurent was initially posted to Shànghǎi (上海) from 1869 to the end of 1872.
From 1873 to 1876, he was then posted to Hankéou (Hànkǒu – 汉口), which would later be integrated into the Wǔhàn (武汉) region, before going to Chiankiang (Zhènjiāng – 镇江) in 1876-1877.
Émile-Laurent Lépissier had a son with a young Chinese woman named Hon Lai-Ngan, whose family is believed to come from Canton (Guǎngzhōu – 广州). This son, named Thomas Simon, was born on 27 January 1877 in Zhènjiāng, five years before Charles, the eldest son of Laurent and Blanche Lépissier.
After Zhènjiang, Laurent was posted to Níngbō (宁波) from 1878 to 1880.
Laurent settled his then 3-year old son Thomas-Simon and the child’s mother in Hong Kong in 1880 as he headed to France on leave.
In June 1880, he returned to France on leave for two years. On 12 February 1881 in Paris, he married Blanche Berthoin, aged 18, and returned to China with his young wife.
1896-1911 – Blanche Lépissier in front of her country home 'Ming Shan' à Foutchéou (Fúzhōu)
Posts in Guǎngzhōu (1881-1884), Shànghǎi (1885-1900) and Fúzhōu (1901-1906)
On his return to China with Blanche, Laurent was posted to Canton (Guǎngzhōu – 广州) from 1881 to the end of 1884.
His sons Charles and Paul were born in Guǎngzhōu, respectively on 23 May 1882 and 17 January 1884.
Laurent returned to Shànghǎi from 1885 to 1900, including periods of leave in 1888,1895 and 1901.
His daughter Claire was born there on 1 October 1885, his son Henri on 18 December 1891 and his youngest Émile on 23 June 1900 during the Boxer rebellion Yìhétuán Qiyi – 义和团起义).
After Shànghǎi, the family went to Fúzhōu (福州) for 5 years from October 1901 to October 1906. The French Consul at the time was Paul Claudel – the family met his mistress, Rosalie Vetch.
Following a period of leave in France from the end of 1906 to September 1908, Laurent was posted to Guǎngzhōu
You will find below an e-book (in French) entitled "The last days of Peking" by Pierre Loti (1850-1923). This work was produced by Mr. Pierre Palpant. It is based on the book published by Calmann-Lévy, Paris, in 1901, which recounts the recapture of Peking during the Boxer Rebellion.
1910-1911 – Blanche and Laurent Lépissier leaving their house at 32, Hart Road, Shanghai
Further posts in Guǎngzhōu (1908-1910) and Shànghǎi (1910-1912)
At the begining of 1908, Laurent returned to Guǎngzhōu. He initially worked within the Statistical Department before becoming Outdoor Deputy Commissioner.
In 1908, Robert Hart, the Inspector-General of the I.M.C.S, fell ill and returned to England on leave. He would never return to China. He was replaced by his second-in-command Francis Aglen.
In 1910, Laurent was posted to Shànghǎi. The family lived in the international concession at 32, Hart Road.
Following the fall of the Manchurian Qīng (清) dynasty in 1911 and the proclamation of the Republic in 1912, China entered a tumultuous period of its history.
Laurent was “gravely affected in his health” according to the French ambassador and exhausted by a 43-year career in China.
Laurent resigned on 30 September 1912, obtained the rank of Commissioner and returned to France. He was named to the 4th Class Civil Rank within the Chinese administration.
Laurent speaks very good English and Mandarin Chinese. He speaks perfect Shànghǎi Chinese.
From February 1923, Laurent was paralysed. He died at the age of 76 on 10 December 1925 in his house in Saint-Jean-de-Braye (45800) in the Loiret. He was buried in Loury (45470).
His wife Blanche died on 30 September 1951 in Orléans.
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The following tab will give you more information about Émile-Laurent Lépissier's career : 'Livre sur Émile-Laurent Lépissier' with 435 illustrations (Only available to members of the Association Émile-Jean Lépissier).
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