| Johann Wilhelm Normann Munthe | |
|---|---|
| Munthe2.jpg | |
| Born | 1864 Bergen, Norway |
| Died | 1935 Beijing, China |
| Allegiance | China |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
Johann Wilhelm Normann Munthe (1864–1935) was born in Bergen, Norway. After a military education in the cavalry, he emigrated to China in 1887, and started working as a customs officer. He enlisted in the Chinese army in the war against Japan (1895–96), and remained as a cavalry instructor under general Yuan Shikai.
Johann Munthe's association with Yuan Shikai proved advantageous, and he advanced in rank to lieutenant general and advisor to the Ministry of War; according to his own words, he was the first foreigner to achieve such a prestigious position.
General Munthe was an avid collector of Chinese works of arts, and his collection includes porcelain, paintings, costumes, and statues in bronze and marble. The collection now resides with the Vestlandske Kunstindustrimuseum.
General Munthe was the stepfather of Sir Alexander Grantham, Governor of Hong Kong from 1947 to 1957.