Battle of Canton (March 1841)
Contemporary British sketch of naval operations off Guangzhou (Canton) on March 18, 1841, first published in 1845
| date | March 18, 1841 |
|---|---|
| place | Canton , China |
| output | British victory |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
| Commander | |
| Troop strength | |
| 9 ships | 5 cont |
| losses | |
|
7 dead |
400 men lost |
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In the Battle of Canton on March 18, 1841, during the First Opium War , the British expedition fleet captured the thirteen factories in Canton , which had served as an export port for European merchants until the interruption of trade. Through this and the preceding military demonstrations of force, the British were able to persuade the local Qing commanders to resume trade in the canton .
background
Since the outbreak of the Opium War, the British Expeditionary Force, under the command of Plenipotentiary Charles Elliot , had won several victories over the Chinese naval and coastal defense forces in front of the strategically important trading city of Canton. Due to the collapse of the Chinese coastal defense, this made it possible for the British to head for the commercial center of Canton from the seaside. The Chinese commander Qishan , who after the Battle of Chuenpi tried unsuccessfully to prevent further diplomacy through the concessions in the Chuenpi Convention , was arrested on March 13. The further defense of the city was to be taken over by the generals Yishan and Yang Fang , whom the emperor commissioned to destroy the barbarian forces (Yi) . Yishan was still on the journey outside of Guangdong at the time . Yang Fang had been in the city since February. Chinese contemporaries noted, however, that Yang Fang did not make any efforts or plans for a counter-offensive.
course
On March 18, 1841, a British naval unit penetrated as far as the Thirteen Factories and was able to take possession of them on the same day against the resistance of the Qing military. At the time of the battle, 90% of the residents had already left the city against the orders of the Qing military.
consequences
After the occupation of the trade district, which had been abandoned by the Europeans, Elliot turned to Yang Fang and asked him to allow canton trade again, otherwise the British troops would not leave the city again. Contrary to the orders of Emperor Daoguang , Yang Fang resumed trading on March 21, 1841.
In his reports to the emperor, he untruthfully portrayed the event as a military and political success. Yang Fang was relieved of his title after the battle, but was left in Canton for probation. Daoguang expected that Yishan, to whom 17,000 soldiers were assigned, would drive the British out of Guangdong after his arrival.