First Opium War
Part of the Opium Wars
Date 1839-1842 Location China Result Decisive British victory; Treaty of Nanjing Territorial changes Hong Kong ceded to United Kingdom
Belligerents
Qing China	British East India Company
Commanders
Daoguang Emperor Lin Zexu	Charles Elliot Anthony Blaxland Stransham

The First Opium War or the First Anglo-Chinese War was fought between the British East India Company and the Qing Dynasty in China from 1839 to 1842 with the aim of forcing China to import British opium. The Opium Wars ( also known as the Anglo-Chinese Wars, lasted from 1839 to 1842 and 1856 to 1860 the climax of a trade dispute between China under the Qing China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Treaty of Nanking (Treaty of Nanjing signed 29 August, 1842, was the unequal treaty which marked the end of the First Opium War between Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Not to be confused with Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of Imperial China The Honourable East India Company ( HEIC) referred to most commonly as the East India Company, also historically and colloquially as John Company, or The Daoguang Emperor ( September 16, 1782 – February 25, 1850) was the seventh emperor of the Manchu Qing dynasty Lin Zexu ( Styled: Yuanfu (元抚 ( August 30, 1785 &ndash November 22, 1850) was a Chinese scholar and official during Charles Elliot, also Charles Elliott ( Chinese 義律 1801 – 9 September, 1875) was a British naval officer diplomat and colonial General Sir Anthony Blaxland Stransham, GCB, (d October 1900 aged 95 led the Royal Marines during the First Opium War, winning the war and The Honourable East India Company ( HEIC) referred to most commonly as the East India Company, also historically and colloquially as John Company, or Not to be confused with Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of Imperial China China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Opium is a Narcotic formed from the Latex (ie sap released by lacerating (or "scoring" the immature seed pods of opium poppies ( Britain won the war and as a result gained control over Hong Kong. Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders

Contents 1 Background 2 War 3 Legacies of the War 4 See also 5 References

Background

During the 19th century, trading in goods from China was extremely lucrative for Europeans and Chinese merchants alike. Due to the Qing Dynasty's trade restrictions, whereby international trade was only allowed to take place in Canton (Guangzhou) conducted by imperially sanctioned monopolies, it became uneconomic to trade in low-value manufactured consumer products that the average Chinese could buy from the British like the Indians did. Guangzhou ( Jyutping: Gwong²zau¹; Yale: Gwóngjàu) is the Capital and a Sub-provincial city

Instead, the Sino-British trade became dominated by high-value luxury items such as tea (from China to Britain) and silver (from Britain to China), to the extent that European specie metals became widely used in China. The Old China Trade was the name given to the early commerce between the Qing Empire and the United States, spanning from the end of the American Revolutionary Tea refers to the cured agricultural product of the leaves leaf buds and internodes of Camellia sinensis, which have been prepared and cured for the market Silver (ˈsɪlvɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol " Ag " (argentum from the Ancient Greek: ἀργήντος - argēntos gen A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is Britain had been on the gold standard since the 18th century, so it had to purchase silver from continental Europe to supply the Chinese appetite for silver, which was a costly process at a time before demonetization of silver by Germany in the 1870s. The gold standard is a monetary system in which a region's common media of exchange are paper notes that are normally freely convertible into pre-set fixed quantities of Gold Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. In casting about for other possible commodities, the British soon discovered opium, and production of the commodity was subsidized in British India. For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British Between 1821 and 1837 imports of the drug to China increased fivefold, as the demand for the equalizing of the trade balance reversed a previous decision by the British authorities to respect the Qing government ban on the drug, dating from 1729. British importation of opium in large amounts began in 1781. The drug was produced in India under a British government monopoly (Bengal) and in the Princely states (Malwa) and was sold on the condition that it be shipped by British traders to China. Etymology and ethnology The exact origin of the word Bangla or Bengal is unknown though it is believed to be derived from the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang The Chinese ignored the opium until they saw the outcome.

Alarmed by the reverse in silver flow and the epidemic of addiction (an estimated 2 million Chinese were habitual users^[1]), the Qing government attempted to end the opium trade however its efforts were complicated by corrupt local officials (including the Viceroy of Canton). In one isolated incident, in 1818, the Laurel carried word to Sydney of a US ship laden with opium and treasure which was invaded by Chinese pirates. The crew of the US vessel had all been killed, but for the escaping first mate, who later identified the pirates to the authorities. in 1839, the Qing Emperor appointed Lin Zexu as the governor of Canton with the goal of reducing and eliminating the Opium trade. Year 1839 ( MDCCCXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Lin Zexu ( Styled: Yuanfu (元抚 ( August 30, 1785 &ndash November 22, 1850) was a Chinese scholar and official during On his arrival, Lin Zexu banned the sale of opium, asked that all opium be surrendered to the Chinese authorities, and asked that all foreign traders sign a 'no opium trade' bond the breaking of which was punishable by death. Lin Zexu ( Styled: Yuanfu (元抚 ( August 30, 1785 &ndash November 22, 1850) was a Chinese scholar and official during He also forced the British hand by closing the channel to Canton, effectively holding British traders hostage in Canton. The British Chief Superintendent of Trade in China, Charles Elliot (who, surprisingly, broke the blockade to arrive in Canton) got the British traders to agree to hand over their opium stock with the promise of eventual compensation for their loss from the British Government. (This promise, and the inability of the British government to pay it without causing a political storm, was an important cause for the subsequent British action. ) ^[2] Overall 20,000 chests ^[3] each holding about 120 pounds^[4]) were handed over and destroyed in May 1839. Following the collection and destruction of the opium, Lin Zexu wrote a "memorial" (摺奏)^[5] to the Queen of Great Britain in an unsuccessful attempt to stop the trade of the drug, as it had poisoned thousands of Chinese civilians (the memorial never reached the Queen). Lin Zexu ( Styled: Yuanfu (元抚 ( August 30, 1785 &ndash November 22, 1850) was a Chinese scholar and official during

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However, in July 1839 rioting British sailors destroyed a temple near Kowloon and murdered a man named Lin Weixi who tried to stop them. Hong Kong began as a coastal Island geographically located in southern China. The following is a Timeline of the history of Hong Kong. Imperial China Era Colonial Hong Kong In the Prehistory of Hong Kong, according to archaeological studies and many other resources human activity in Hong Kong dates back over five Millennia The History of Hong Kong in Imperial China began in 214 BC under the Qin Dynasty. The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong began after the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Young surrendered the territory of Hong Kong to Japan on 25 December Hong Kong began as a coastal Island geographically located in southern China. 1950s in Hong Kong began after the Japanese rule ended in 1945 with Sovereignty returning to the British. 1960s in Hong Kong continued with the development and expansion of manufacturing that began in the previous decade 1970s in Hong Kong underwent many changes that shaped its future 1980s in Hong Kong marks a period when the territory is known for its wealth and trademark lifestyle 1990s in Hong Kong marks a transitional period and the last decade of Colonial Hong Kong. The transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, often referred to as the Handover 2000s in Hong Kong began a new millennium under the People's Republic of China (PRC Seven years after the first flight of a heavier-than-air controlled aeroplane in 1903, planes were already flying in Hong Kong. The history of bus transport in Hong Kong began with the introduction of the first bus routes in Hong Kong in the 1920s. This article gives readers an insight on how the British colonial rule affected the technical standards in Hong Kong. Chinese civilization originated in various city-states along the Yellow River ( valley in the Neolithic era The history of the United Kingdom — British history — as an unified Sovereign state begins with the legistlative union between the kingdoms of England The Culture of Hong Kong can best be described as a foundation that began with China, and then leaned West for much of the 20th century under constructive Hong Kong's highly favorable geographical position and Entrepot trading opportunities are wealth-generating assets Education in Hong Kong has a similar system to that of the United Kingdom, in particular the English education system of Hong Kong was modernized by the The Geography of Hong Kong primarily consists of three main territories Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula, and the New Territories Politics of Hong Kong takes place in a framework of a political system dominated by People's Republic of China, its own legislature the Chief Executive Kowloon refers to an urban area in Hong Kong made up of Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon, bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east Because China did not have a jury trial system or evidentiary process (the magistrate was the prosecutor, judge, jury and would-be executioner), the British government and community in China wanted "extraterritoriality", which meant that British subjects would only be tried by British judges. Extraterritoriality is the state of being exempt from the Jurisdiction of local law usually as the result of diplomatic negotiations When the Qing authorities demanded the men be handed over for trial, the British refused. Six sailors were tried by the British authorities in Guangzhou (Canton), but they were immediately released after they reached England. Guangzhou ( Jyutping: Gwong²zau¹; Yale: Gwóngjàu) is the Capital and a Sub-provincial city Charles Elliott's authority is in dispute; the British government later claimed that without authority from the Qing government he had no legal right to try anyone, although according to the British Act of Parliament that gave him authority over British merchants and sailors, 'he was expressly appointed to preside over ' Court of Justice with Criminal an Admiralty Jurisdiction for the trial of offenses committed by His Majesty's subjects in the said Dominions or on the high sea within a hundred miles of the coast of China'". ^[6]

The Qing authorities also insisted that British merchants not be allowed to trade unless they signed a bond, under penalty of death, promising not to smuggle opium, agreeing to follow Chinese laws, and acknowledging Qing legal jurisdiction. Refusing to hand over any suspects or agree to the bonds, Charles Elliot ordered the British community to withdraw from Guangzhou and prohibited trade with the Chinese. Guangzhou ( Jyutping: Gwong²zau¹; Yale: Gwóngjàu) is the Capital and a Sub-provincial city Some merchants who didn't deal in opium were willing to sign the bond, thereby weakening the British trading position.

War

Preparing for war, the British seized Hong Kong (then a minor outpost) as a base on August 23, 1839. Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders Events 79 - Mount Vesuvius begins stirring on the feast day of Vulcan the Roman god of fire Year 1839 ( MDCCCXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common In late October the Thomas Coutts arrived in China and sailed to Guangzhou. Guangzhou ( Jyutping: Gwong²zau¹; Yale: Gwóngjàu) is the Capital and a Sub-provincial city This ship was owned by Quakers who refused to deal in opium, and its captain, Smith, believed Elliot had exceeded his legal authority by banning trade. The captain negotiated with the governor of Canton and hoped that all British ships could unload their goods at Chuenpeh, an island near Humen. Humen (虎门镇 also known as Taiping is a County-level city within the Dongguan Prefecture-level city, on the eastern side of the Bocca Tigris In order to prevent other British ships from following the Thomas Coutts, Elliot ordered a blockade of the Pearl River (China). The Zhu Jiang, ( Chinese 珠江 Pinyin: Zhū Jiāng or Pearl River or less commonly the Canton River, is China 's third longest Fighting began on November 3, 1839, when a second British ship, the Royal Saxon, attempted to sail to Guangzhou. Events 644 - Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second Muslim Caliph, is killed by a Persian slave in Medina. Year 1839 ( MDCCCXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Guangzhou ( Jyutping: Gwong²zau¹; Yale: Gwóngjàu) is the Capital and a Sub-provincial city Then the Volage and Hyacinth fired a warning shot at the Royal Saxon. HMS Hyacinth was a British sixth rate sloop; she fought alongside HMS ''Volage'' and destroyed 29 Chinese ships in the First Opium War. The official Qing navy's report claimed that the navy attempted to protect the British merchant vessel and also reported a great victory for that day. Elliot reports that they were protecting their 29 ships in Chuenpeh between the Qing batteries. Elliot knew that Chinese would reject any contacts with British and there would be an attack with fire boats. Elliot ordered all ships to leave Chuenpeh and head for Tung Lo Wan, 20 miles (30 km) from Macau, but the merchants liked to harbour in Hong Kong. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Macau topics. In reality, they were out-classed by the Royal Naval vessels and many Chinese ships were sunk. In 1840 Elliot asked the Portuguese governor in Macau to let British ships load and unload their goods at Macau and they would pay rents and any duties. The governor refused for fear that the Qing Government would discontinue to supply food and other necessities to Macau. On January 14, 1840, the Qing Emperor asked all foreigners in China to stop helping British in China. Events 1129 - Formal approval of the Order of the Templar at the Council of Troyes. Year 1840 ( MDCCCXL) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year

In retaliation, the British Government and British East India Company had reached a conclusion that they would attack Guangdong. The Honourable East India Company ( HEIC) referred to most commonly as the East India Company, also historically and colloquially as John Company, or The Battle of Canton was fought on May 21, 1841 between Great Britain and Qing Dynasty, during the First Opium War. The military cost would be paid by the British Government. In June 1840, an expeditionary force of 15 barracks ships, 4 steam-powered gunboats and 25 smaller boats with 4000 marines reached Guangdong from Singapore. Guangdong ( EFEO: Kouangtong; Pinyin Guǎngdōng; Postal map spelling: Kwangtung) is a province on the Singapore The marines were headed by James Bremer. Sir James John Gordon Bremer ( September 26, 1786 - February 14, 1850) was Rear-admiral in the British Royal Navy Bremer demanded the Qing Government compensate the British for losses suffered from interrupted trade. The Qing Government refused and the British attacked. The mouth of the Pearl River was heavily defended under Commissioner Lin so the British fleet went northward to Xiamen. Bocca Tigris or the Bogue ( Chinese: 虎門 Pinyin: humen / full moon lit

The next year, 1841, the British captured the Bogue forts which guarded the mouth of the Pearl River — the waterway between Hong Kong and Guangzhou. The Zhu Jiang, ( Chinese 珠江 Pinyin: Zhū Jiāng or Pearl River or less commonly the Canton River, is China 's third longest By January 1841, British forces commanded the high ground around Guangzhou and defeated the Chinese at Ningbo and at the military post of Chinghai. Ningbo ( literally "Tranquil Waves" is a Seaport with sub-provincial administrative status. (青海 qīnghǎi is a province of the People's Republic of China, named after Qinghai Lake.

By the middle of 1842, the British had defeated the Chinese at the mouth of their other great riverine trade route, the Yangtze, and were occupying Shanghai. Shanghai ( 上[[wikt 海|海]] is the largest city in China in terms of population and one of the largest urban areas in the world with over 20 million The Qing government proved incapable of dealing with Western Powers on an equal basis, either politically or militarily. Not to be confused with Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of Imperial China The war finally ended in August 1842, with the signing of China's first Unequal Treaty, the Treaty of Nanjing. Unequal Treaties is a term used in reference to the type of Treaties signed by several East Asian states including Qing Dynasty China, late The Treaty of Nanking (Treaty of Nanjing signed 29 August, 1842, was the unequal treaty which marked the end of the First Opium War between Gen. Sir Anthony Blaxland Stransham led the Royal Marines during the Opium War as a young officer, and as the 'Grand Old Man of the Army', was awarded two knighthoods by Queen Victoria. General Sir Anthony Blaxland Stransham, GCB, (d October 1900 aged 95 led the Royal Marines during the First Opium War, winning the war and Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901 was from 20 June 1837 the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

Legacies of the War

The ease with which the British East India Company's forces had defeated the Chinese armies seriously affected the Qing Dynasty's prestige. The Honourable East India Company ( HEIC) referred to most commonly as the East India Company, also historically and colloquially as John Company, or This almost certainly contributed to the Taiping Rebellion (1850–1864). The Taiping Rebellion or Rebellion of Great Peace was a large-scale Revolt against the authority and forces of the Qing Government in China The success of the First Opium War allowed the British to resume the drug trafficking within China. It also paved the way for the opening of the lucrative Chinese market and Chinese society to missionary endeavors. The First Opium War was a war that some Chinese political historians feel was initiated by the British in order to make a great profit from the drug trafficking. This kind of invasion was encouraged by Queen Victoria in the Second Opium War in China and the rest of Asia. The Second Opium War, the Second Anglo-Chinese War, the Arrow War, or the Anglo-French expedition to China, was a war of the United Kingdom

Among the most notable figures in the events leading up to military action in the Opium War, was the man the Manchu Daoguang emperor assigned to suppress the national malady of opium addiction^[7]; Lin Zexu, known affectionately for his superlative service to his nation under the Qing Dynasty as "Lin the Clear Sky"^[8]. The Manchu people ( Manchu: Manju;, Mongolian: Манж Russian: Маньчжуры are a Tungusic people who originated in The Daoguang Emperor ( September 16, 1782 – February 25, 1850) was the seventh emperor of the Manchu Qing dynasty Although he has in essence led the war against the debilitating drug with some initial success, with the arrest of 1,700 opium dealers and destruction of 2. 6 million pounds of opium, he had been made the scapegoat for the actions leading to British retaliation, and ultimately failing to stem the tide of opium import and use in China^[9]. Nevertheless, Lin Zexu is popularly viewed as a hero of 19th century China, whose likeness has been immortalized at various locations around the world^[10]/^[11]/^[12]/^[13].

See also

• Second Opium War
• David Sassoon
• Anglo-Chinese relations
• William Jardine (surgeon)
• William John Napier, 9th Lord Napier
• History of China
• British military history
• Forbes family

References

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