Sean Hurley (1887–1961) was an Irish Sinologist who spent the years 1905 to 1915 in China. He was the first known Irishman to hold a Chinese passport.
China
Born in Durrus, West Cork, Hurley began to travel in his teens then in 1905 he started with the British Customs Service in Shanghai and travelled around China until 1915. He was one of the few westerners to venture into the Sino-Russian war zone. He learned Chinese and helped to train activists loyal to Sun Yat-sen, who came to power in 1912 and honoured Hurley with gifts and a Chinese passport.
Return to Ireland
He returned to Ireland in 1915, and opened two photographic studios in Dublin and later produced a silent film Land of her Fathers involving many Abbey actors including Barry Fitzgerald. It was described at the time as the most ambitious Irish film made to date. He was later involved in establishing Aer Lingus and what was to become the IDA.
Hurley died in 1961.
References
- Irish Times, Hugh Oram, "Irishman's Diary", 20 August 2005
- Land of Her Fathers at IMDb