Deng Shichang (4 October 1849 – 17 September 1894), courtesy name Zhengqing, posthumous name Zhuangjie, was an Imperial Chinese Navy officer who lived in the late Qing dynasty. He is best known for his service in the Beiyang Fleet during the First Sino-Japanese War as the captain of the protected cruiser Zhiyuan. He participated in the Battle of the Yalu River on 17 September 1894 against the Imperial Japanese Navy. After Zhiyuan was sunk in battle, he refused to be rescued and eventually went down with his ship. He was posthumously awarded the position of taizi shaobao (Tutor to the Crown Prince) by the Qing government and honoured as a hero in the Shrine of Loyalty in Beijing. Early life Deng was born in Longdaowei, Panyu, Guangdong, which is in present-day Haizhu District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province. His given name was originally "Yongchang" (永昌) but was later changed to "Shichang". He was born in a relatively wealthy family that ran a tea trading business. When he was a child, his father sent him to attend a missionary school in Shanghai, where he received a Western education. Service in the Fujian Fleet In 1867, Deng was accepted into the Naval Academy (船政學堂) in Mawei, Fujian, as part of the first batch of students. After completing seven years of education – five years of theoretical learning, and two years of practical training on board the Jianwei (建威) – he graduated from the Naval Academy in 1874 with excellent results, and impressed Shen Baozhen, the Naval Minister in the Qing government. Upon Deng's graduation, Shen assigned Deng to the Fujian Fleet and appointed him as the bangdai (幫帶; equivalent to Commander) of the scout transport boat Chenhang (琛航). In the following year, Deng was promoted to serve as the guandai (管帶; equivalent to Captain) of the gunboat Haidongyun (海東雲). In May 1874, when the Japanese invaded Taiwan, Deng was ordered to lead Qing forces to reinforce the defences at Keelung and the Pescadores. He was also appointed as qianzong (千總; seven ranks below tidu). Service in the Beiyang Fleet In 1880, Deng was transferred to the Beiyang Fleet and sent to Britain to receive and escort the cruiser Yangwei back to China. Upon his return, he was appointed as the guandai (Captain) of the Yangwei. In 1887, he was sent to Britain again to receive the protected cruiser , and was subsequently appointed