Official career

Li was born in Gaoyang County, Zhili, in present-day Hebei province. In 1861, the two dowagers empresses chose Li Hongzao, Qi Junzao, and Weng Xincun, who were all Imperial teachers, to instruct the newly enthroned Tongzhi Emperor in the classics. The Emperor, who was less than five years old at the time, displayed little or no interest in his studies, and would concentrate only when Li was instructing him. Li rose to be vice-president of the Board of Revenue and Grand Councilor, and in 1872 became head of the Board of Works. He then retired for a three-year period, 1877-1880, as required by custom and statute at the death of his mother.

Upon his return to office, he resumed his post with the Grand Council and the Zongli Yamen, which was in effect the dynasty's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1884, Li and all the Grand Councillors, such as Yixin, who had been supported by the Empress Dowager, Cixi, were dismissed in a dispute with a group of conservative officials. He was gradually given permission to resume responsibilities, but often criticized for not carrying them out promptly. After the outbreak of the First Sino-Japanese War in 1894, he was given even greater duties, but died in 1897.

生平

咸豐二年（1852年）壬子恩科進士，選庶吉士，散館任翰林院編修。同治四年以弘德殿行走、內閣大學士、軍機大臣，同治十三年十月，上有疾，李鴻藻代批答章奏。歷任五部尚書，被李鴻章視為政敵，與李鴻章無親屬關係但常被誤認。光緒二十三年丁酉（1897年）七月病逝。謚文正。《清史稿》有傳。

家族

先祖李國，明末重臣。子李石曾（李煜瀛），為1924年故宮博物院善後委員會第一任會委員長，北京師範大學校長。