Hirobumi Ito

Ito became Japan's first prime minister (1885-1888) under its modern cabinet system. Ito, who was the chief architect of Japan's first constitution, later served as the country's fifth (1892-1896), seventh (Jan. 12, 1898-June 30, 1898) and 10th (1900-1901) prime minister. Ito signed the Korean-Japanese Convention of 1905, which awarded Japan full control of Korea's foreign relations. Ito, who became the first Japanese resident general in Korea of 1906, was assassinated on Oct. 26 in 1909 in Harbin, Manchuria by Korean nationalist An Chung Gun. Born Sept. 2, 1841.