Aritomo Yamagata

Aritomo Yamagata, Prince (1838-), Japanese field-marshal, was born in Choshu. He began life as an ordinary samurai and rose steadily in reputation and rank, being created a count in 1884, a marquess in 1895 (after the war with China) and a prince in 1907 (after the war with Russia). He twice held the post of premier, and was the leader of Japanese conservatism, being a staunch opponent of party cabinets.