| After the Wuchang Uprising, the provinces that had declared independence called the Conference of Military Governors' Representatives in Shanghai and chose Nanjing as the seat of the provisional central government. Upon Dr Sun Yat-sen's return to China on December 25, 1911, provincial representatives met in Nanjing to elect the provisional president. The representatives of 17 provinces cast secret ballots for the three candidates, Dr Sun, Li Yuanhong and Huang Xing. Dr Sun was elected with 16 votes (the other vote went to Huang Xing). The original copy of this public notice on candidates for the provisional presidency of the Republic of China was written by Yuan Xiluo, a Jiangsu representative who served as secretary and ballot recorder at the election. This notice is now in the collection of the Shanghai History Museum. |
