Sun Yat-sen, who was known by many different names throughout his life, was a Chinese statesman who helped overthrow the Qing Dynasty in October 1911. He is considered to be one of the greatest leaders of modern China, but his political life was one of constant struggle and frequent exile. He is often called the Father of the Nation.
He was president when the Republic of China was founded in 1912. He later co-founded the Kuomintang. Sun remains revered in both mainland China and Taiwan. A massive portrait of Sun continues to appear in Tiananmen Square for May Day and National Day.
He was also a physician and political philosopher. He created the Three Principles of the People philosophy, which is the basis of a national anthem he wrote in 1924.