Heshen

Heshen (1750–1799), born Shanbao, was a Manchu official of the Niohuru clan in the Qing dynasty. He studied at the Xian'an Palace school, learning four languages. He entered palace service as an imperial guard in 1772 and caught the eye of the Qianlong Emperor, who promoted him into the Grand Council in 1776.

Over more than twenty years he amassed a vast fortune through bribes and married his son to the emperor's favourite daughter. Within days of Qianlong's death in 1799, the Jiaqing Emperor charged him with corruption, seized his wealth, and ordered him to strangle himself.