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Recognising the achievements of our diverse, global community of staff, students and partners – past and present - Faces of UCL uncovers some of our unsung heroes alongside more renowned figures.
Read on to explore F.T Cheng's story and browse through all the Faces using the search page.
F.T Cheng was the first Chinese person to earn a doctorate in law from the University of London and supported fellow Chinese students as they adjusted to life in in early 20th century London.
Anglo-Chinese friendship, moreover, has a solid basis; for, apart from our long years of good relations, we have something fundamental in common: a common notion of justice.
F.T. Cheng, East and West: Episodes in a Sixty Years' Journey (p.185)
When F.T. Cheng (Zheng Tianxi 鄭天錫, 1884-1970) arrived at UCL in 1909 to study law, he may not have imagined this would be the start of a lifelong relationship with the university and with London.
Like many of UCL’s early Chinese students, F.T. Cheng took on the role of unofficial cultural ambassador – a role he would come back to repeatedly throughout his life. He was a mentor for Chinese students, offering practical advice, academic coaching, and a sympathetic ear to those adjusting to life in a foreign country.
In a familiar experience for students today, Cheng soon found himself short of money and had to relocate from the city centre to cheaper accommodation in Wood Green. One possible cause may have been his taste for gourmet food, a weakness that would stay with him. His book Musings of a Chinese Gourmet offers humorous reflections on Chinese cuisine for a western audience.
In 1916, Cheng became the first Chinese person to earn a doctorate in law (LLD) from the University of London and shared the prestigious Quain Prize in International Law with fellow student M.T. Z. Tyau (Diao Minqian 刁敏謙). He went on to have a hugely successful legal career, serving as a counsellor at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as judge of the Supreme Court of the Republic of China.
Cheng returned to London in style in 1935, as Special Commissioner for the London International Exhibition of Chinese Art at the Royal Academy. The high-profile event was attended by King George V and Queen Mary, along with hundreds of Chinese students who welcomed the positive press coverage for their community, culture and heritage.
Known for his calmness and integrity in a challenging political climate, Cheng served as the last Ambassador to Britain from the Republic of China from 1946-1950, before the Communist government took power. Subsequently exiled from China, he eventually returned to his student home of North London, where he remained until his death.
Cheng’s commitment to global collaboration and engagement still shapes UCL today. His son, Bin Cheng, followed in his footsteps, earning his Laws doctorate and becoming a distinguished legal scholar and Dean of Laws at UCL.
For the survival of civilization and mankind, the world can no longer be regarded as anything but a whole and undivided family.
F.T. Cheng, East and West: Episodes in a Sixty Years' Journey (p.222)
Photo (top): F.T. Cheng / UCL Special Collections, COLLEGE COLLECTION DC 45
Sources and explore further
- Georgina Brewis and Jenny Bond,Who were UCL’s first Chinese students?, Portico Magazine (2024)
- F.T. Cheng, East & West: Episodes in a Sixty Years’ Journey (1951)