(1841-1909)
Japanese statesman. Born to a samurai's adopted son in Choshu fief in western Japan, Ito received samurai status in 1863 and was sent to England to study despite the official policy of national seclusion. Abandoning his early hostility to the West, he led negotiations on his return after English bombardment of Choshu. Appointed junior councillor in charge of foreign affairs after the Meiji Restoration, Ito studied Western financial systems and toured the West with other government officials in 1871-1873. Made full councillor in 1873, he dominated government as home minister after the assassination of Okubo Toshimichi in 1878. After extensive study in Europe, he began drafting Meiji Japan's German-style constitution in 1883 and became prime minister of the first cabinet government in 1885, later becoming a proponent of party politics. In 1888 he became head of the privy council, serving again as prime minister in 1892-1896, 1898-1899, and 1900-1901, and leading Japan to world-power status. Once more head of the privy council after 1903, he began annexation of Korea, becoming first Resident General there in 1906 and in 1907 forcing the Korean sovereign's abdication. He resigned in 1909, but was assassinated in Manchuria by a Korean nationalist