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YAMAMOTO, Gonnohyoe (Gombei). Born Satsuma, later Kagoshima Prefecture; as a youth took part in fighting against the English at the bombardment of Kagoshima (1863); as samurai joined Satsuma's rifle troop no. 8; in Boshin War that ended Tokugawa shogan's rule, fought at Toba-Fushimi, Hachiman, and in Echigo (1868); served aboard ship in pursuit of renegade Admiral Enomoto Takeaki at Hokkaido (1869); attended preparatory schools in Tokyo, entered naval academy (1870); graduated (1874); on training cruise to Europe and South America with German navy vessels (1877-78); as junior officer acquired much sea experience, developed interest in training, helped produce new gunnery manual that became standard for the service; served as executive officer of crew that brought cruiser Naniwa to Japan from Elswick (1885-86); trip to USA and Europe in suite of navy minister Kabayama (1887-88); as commander of cruiser Takao, undertook confidential mission to Yuan Shih-k'ai in Seoul (1890); appointed director of navy minister's secretariat (1891); from about 1893, became the real leader of the navy under patron Saigo Tsugumichi, then navy minister; infused the service with vigorous reformist spirit, conducting a purge of deadwood and ending favoritism toward officers of his own Satsuma district (1893), achieving a navy general staff roughly equal in status to the army's (1893); and pushing for an aggressive strategy toward China in the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95); rear admiral (1895); vice admiral and navy minister (1898); baron (1902); admiral (1904); left navy ministry (1906); count (1907); prime minister (1913-14); resigned with cabinet over Siemens-Vickers naval armaments scandal, though never shown to have been involved personally; transferred to naval reserve (1914); prime minister in "earthquake cabinet" (1923-24); resigned over attempt on crown prince's life (January 1924); left public life; more than any other figure deserves title of father of modern Japanese navy; no relation to Yamamoto Isoroku.