The History of China

Britain and China both saw the opium crisis clearly enough to know it would end in disaster. Each believed it understood the situation, and the other, well enough to keep events from spinning out of control. And yet... it happened anyway.Time Period Covered:Late 1839 – April 1840

Major Historical Figures:

The Qing Empire:The Daoguang Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Minning) [r. 1820–1850]Lin Zexu, Imperial Commissioner and Governor-General of Huguang [1785–1850]

The British Empire:Queen Victoria [r. 1837–1901]Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, Foreign Secretary [1784–1865]Charles Elliot, Chief Superintendent of British Trade in China [1801–1875]William Gladstone, Member of Parliament [1789–1898]Sir James Graham, Member of Parliament [1792–1861]

Major Sources Cited:Platt, Stephen R. Imperial Twilight: The Opium War and the End of China’s Last Golden AgeLovell, Julia. The Opium War: Drugs, Dreams and the Making of ChinaFairbank, John K. Trade and Diplomacy on the China CoastHansard’s Parliamentary Debates, 1840
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Lin Zexu believed moral clarity and the largest drug bust in history could end the opium crisis and avert war. Yet, as his solution drained into Humen Bay, so too did the last hope of peace between China and Britain.Time Period Covered:1836–June 1839

Major Historical Figures:

The Qing Empire:The Daoguang Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Minning) [r. 1820–1850]Lin Zexu, Imperial Commissioner and Governor-General of Huguang [1785–1850]Deng Tingzhen, Governor-General of Liangguang [1776–1846]Huang Juezi, Minister and court official (opium policy advocate)

The British Empire:King William IV [r. 1830–1837]Queen Victoria [r. 1837–1901]Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, Foreign Secretary [1784–1865]Charles Elliot, Chief Superintendent of British Trade in China [1801–1875]Lancelot Dent, Opium trader and head of Dent & Co. [1799–1875]James Matheson, Merchant and political advocate for war [1796–1878]

Major Sources Cited:Fairbank, John K. Trade and Diplomacy on the China CoastPlatt, Stephen R. Imperial Twilight: The Opium War and the End of China’s Last Golden AgeWakeman, Frederic, Jr. “The Canton Trade and the Opium War,” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 10Wakeman, Frederic, Jr. The Fall of Imperial ChinaLovell, Julia. The Opium War: Drugs, Dreams and the Making of China
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Letter to the queen of England, from the high Imperial Commissioner Lin, and his

colleagues.

From the Canton press.
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In 1834, Britain sent a man to China almost perfectly unsuited to the job... only to forbid him from actually doing it. William John Napier, naval officer, socialite, & dilettante with no experience in diplomacy, trade, or China, arrived at Canton convinced he was destined to break open the Qing Empire by force of his will alone. But he would not get quite the war he wanted. Nor the recognition he imagined. Nor the vindication he believed history owed him. Which is not to say he got nothing at all...

Time Period Covered:

January-October, 1834

Major Historical Figures:

The Qing Empire:

The Daoguang Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Minning) [r. 1820–1850]

Lu Kun, Governor-General of Liangguang [1772–1835]

The British Empire:

King William IV [r. 1830-1837]

William John Napier, 9th Baron Napier, Chief Superintendent of British Trade in China [1786-1834]

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston [1784–1865]

Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey [1764–1845]

Major Sources Cited:

Fairbank, John K. Trade and Diplomacy on the China Coast

Platt, Stephen R. Imperial Twilight: The Opium War and the End of China’s Last Golden Age.

Wakeman, Frederic, Jr. “The Canton Trade and the Opium War,” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 10.

Wakeman, Frederic, Jr. The Fall of Imperial China.

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In this empire business, you gotta make the opium first. Then when you get the opium, you get the silver. Then when you get the silver, then you get the tea.Time Period Covered:ca. 1760-1839 CEMajor Historical Figures:Qing Empire:The Daoguang Emperor (Minning) [r. 1820–1850]Governor-General of Liangguang, Ruan Yuan [1764–1849]"The Hoppo" (Imperial Superintendent of Maritime Customs), The emperor’s personal revenue agent at CantonChinese Commercial Interests:"The Cohong" (Gonghang), the licensed guild of Cantonese merchants authorized to trade with foreigners"The Consoo Fund" (Gongsuo), the Cohong’s collective insurance poolYaokou Dealers & River Smugglers, opium wholesale intermediaries and armed transporters inland via the Pearl River systemBritish & Foreign Interests:The British East India Company (EIC)The Select Committee at Canton, the EIC's on-site management teamDr. William Jardine (1784–1843), physician-turned-opium magnateThe True Protagonists:Silver, shinyTea, fragrantOpium, somniferousMajor Works Cited:Fairbank, John K. Trade and Diplomacy on the China Coast: The Opening of the Treaty Ports, 1842–1854.Platt, Stephen R. Imperial Twilight: The Opium War and the End of China’s Last Golden Age.Wakeman, Frederic, Jr. “The Canton Trade and the Opium War” in The Cambridge History of China, Volume 10: Late Ch’ing, 1800–1911, Part I.
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