Yung Wing (1828-1912) was an influential social and political figure in China and the United States. Born near Macau, Wing attended missionary schools before traveling west to study at more prominent American institutions. In 1854 he graduated from Yale University, becoming their first alumni of Chinese descent. He became a strong proponent of education, creating programs that would allow more children to be taught in the U.S. Wing also aided the government by brokering various business transactions between the two countries.