이천보 李天輔
Chief State Councillor under Yeongjo, ranked among the two great prose writers of his reign (pen name Jinam; posthumous title Mungan)
| Life | 1698 ~ 1761 |
| Era | 조선 후기 |
| Clan | 연안 이씨 |
Life & career
Yi Cheon-bo (1698-1761) was a late Joseon civil official of the Yeonan clan, with courtesy name Uisuk, pen name Jinam and posthumous title Mungan. His great-grandfather was the chief academician Yi Il-sang, his father Yi Ju-sin was magistrate of Okcheon, and his mother was a daughter of Kim Man-gi, making him a nephew of Queen Ingyeong. Having no son of his own, he adopted his eleventh-degree nephew Yi Mun-won; his grandson Yi Jon-su became Left State Councillor.
He passed the 1739 special civil examination and served in censorial posts, becoming Vice Minister of Personnel in 1749, then Minister of Personnel and of War, and in 1752 Right State Councillor, Left State Councillor and Chief State Councillor within a single year. Under Yeongjo he and Yu Cheok-gi were counted the two great prose writers, and he exchanged learning with Nam Yu-yong, O Won and Hwang Gyeong-won regardless of faction.
The Veritable Records say he left office and died of illness in 1761, while a later record says that he, Yi Hu and Min Baek-sang died by suicide in succession. It is generally understood that he took poison to take responsibility for Crown Prince Jangheon's unauthorized trip to Pyeongyang. He was granted a perpetual ancestral rite for his loyalty to the prince, and his works are collected in the Jinamjip.
To Chief State Councillor
After passing the 1739 examination, Yi Cheon-bo rose through censorial posts to vice minister in 1749 and to Right, Left and Chief State Councillor in 1752, and was counted among the two great prose writers of Yeongjo's reign.
Records of His Death
The Veritable Records say he died of illness, while a later record calls it suicide; it is generally understood that he took poison over the prince's Pyeongyang trip. As the records differ, no single account is asserted.
Grave
The tomb was not confirmed here. A servants' wing of his former residence, the Yi Cheon-bo old house, is said to remain.
Descendants
With no son of his own he adopted nephew Yi Mun-won; his grandson Yi Jon-su became Left State Councillor.