Gonbee Yamamoto

Gonbee Yamamoto (1852 - 1933) was an Imperial Japanese Navy officer and twice Prime Minister of Japan. He was born in Kagoshima, the home of the Satsuma Clan, as the son of a samurai of the Kagoshima Clan, and served in the Boshin War.

Naval
In 1874, he graduated from the Naval Academy, and commanded several warships. Moving into the naval command, he naval posts such as chief officer of the Navy Ministry and vice navy minister in the Imperial Headquarters. In 1893, he created a Naval Staff, independent of the Army General Staff.

In 1895, he became chief of the Bureau of Naval Affairs, from when he served as navy minister (1906-1913) for the second Yamagata cabinet, fourth Ito cabinet and first Katsura cabinet, and became navy admiral in 1904. He was thus the Navy Minister during the Russo-Japanese War.

Government
In 1913, he became prime minister, succeeding Katsura, but resigned as a result of the Siemens scandal. In 1923, he became prime minister again, following Tomosaburo Kato, but resigned, this time because of the Toranomon Incident. Keigo Kiyoura replaced him as Prime Minister.