born Nov. 29, 1815, Hikone, Japan
died March 24, 1860, Edo [now Tokyo]
Japanese daimyo and statesman who made the last attempt to reassert the traditional political role of the shogunate (military ruler).
In response to Commodore Townsend Harris over trade. In an unusual move, the shogunate had sought the emperor's consent to the treaty; when antitreaty forces blocked approval, Ii, as head of the shogunal governing body, authorized the signing. This outraged many daimyo; when Ii silenced them, he was beheaded by assassins. See also {{link=Tokugawa period">Tokugawa period ; Meiji Restoration .