Event First Opium War

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Was a war between Qing China and the British Empire whose immediate cause was the Chinese prohibition against opium trafficking by British merchants. At the end of the war Hong Kong Island (part of modern-day Hong Kong) was ceded to Britain.

Chronology

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  • March 1841: Battle of Whampoa.
  • March 1842: When pursuing the retreating Chinese army after the Battle of Ningpo, the British captured the nearby city of Cixi on 15 March.
  • June 1842: The mouth of the Huangpu River was captured by the British fleet.
  • June 1842: After the Battle of Woosung, the British captured the towns of Wusong and Baoshan.
  • June 1842: During the First Opium War, British forces led by Captain Charles Elliot occupied the outskirts of Shanghai in 1842. This military occupation was part of the Treaty of Nanking, which ceded the territory to Great Britain.
  • May 1842: During the First Opium War, British forces led by Captain Charles Elliot captured the strategic port of Zhapu in 1842. This victory allowed Great Britain to establish military occupation in the area.
  • July 1842: Battle of Chinkiang.
  • March 1842: When pursuing the retreating Chinese army after the Battle of Ningpo, the British captured the nearby city of Cixi on 15 March.
  • October 1841: During the First Opium War, British forces led by Captain Charles Elliot captured Zhenhai in 1841, enabling them to take control of Ningpo without facing resistance. This military occupation was part of Britain's efforts to secure trading rights and expand their influence in China.
  • October 1841: Chusan had been exchanged for Hong Kong on the authority of Qishan in January 1841, after which the island had been re-garrisoned by the Qing. Fearing that the Chinese would improve the island's defences, the British began a military invasion. The British attacked the Qing on 1 October. The battle of the Second Capture of Chusan ensued. The British forces killed 1500 Qing soldiers and captured Chusan.
  • July 1842: Battle of Chinkiang.
  • October 1841: Chusan had been exchanged for Hong Kong on the authority of Qishan in January 1841, after which the island had been re-garrisoned by the Qing. Fearing that the Chinese would improve the island's defences, the British began a military invasion. The British attacked the Qing on 1 October. The battle of the Second Capture of Chusan ensued. The British forces killed 1500 Qing soldiers and captured Chusan.
  • February 1841: Battle of First Bar.
  • September 1841: The Qing army retook the city of Xiamen and restored order.
  • October 1841: A British naval force bombarded and captured a fort on the outskirts of Ningbo.
  • June 1842: During the First Opium War, British forces led by Captain Charles Elliot occupied the outskirts of Shanghai in 1842. This military occupation was part of the Treaty of Nanking, which ceded the territory to Great Britain.
  • June 1842: During the First Opium War, British forces led by Captain Charles Elliot occupied the outskirts of Shanghai in 1842. This military occupation was part of the Treaty of Nanking, which ceded the territory to Great Britain.
  • March 1841: British attacked Canton, taking the Thirteen Factories (the sole warehouses of Western trade in China at the time).
  • May 1841: On 25 May, and the British counter-attacked, taking the last four Qing forts above Canton and bombarding the city. The Qing army fled in panic when the city heights were taken, and the British pursued them into the countryside.
  • October 1841: A British naval force bombarded and captured a fort on the outskirts of Ningbo.
  • May 1842: During the First Opium War, British forces led by Captain Charles Elliot captured the strategic port of Zhapu in 1842. This victory allowed Great Britain to establish military occupation in the area.
  • January 1841: In 1841, during the First Opium War, British forces led by Admiral Sir Hugh Gough and Captain Charles Elliot achieved a significant victory in the Second Battle of Chuenpi. The British fleet destroyed 11 Chinese junks and captured the Humen forts, solidifying their military occupation of the territory.
  • May 1842: During the First Opium War, British forces led by Captain Charles Elliot captured the strategic port of Zhapu in 1842. This victory allowed Great Britain to establish military occupation in the area.
  • March 1841: Battle of Whampoa.
  • August 1841: Battle of Amoy.
  • March 1842: When pursuing the retreating Chinese army after the Battle of Ningpo, the British captured the nearby city of Cixi on 15 March.
  • June 1842: During the First Opium War, British forces led by Captain Charles Elliot occupied the outskirts of Shanghai in 1842. This military occupation was part of the Treaty of Nanking, which ceded the territory to Great Britain.
  • May 1842: During the First Opium War, British forces led by Captain Charles Elliot captured the strategic port of Zhapu in 1842. This victory allowed Great Britain to establish military occupation in the area.
  • May 1841: In 1841, during the First Opium War, British forces led by Captain Charles Elliot occupied Canton after the fighting subsided. This marked a significant moment in the conflict between Britain and China over trade and opium.
  • October 1841: During the First Opium War, British forces led by Captain Charles Elliot captured Zhenhai in 1841, enabling them to take control of Ningpo without facing resistance. This military occupation was part of Britain's efforts to secure trading rights and expand their influence in China.
  • March 1841: British attacked Canton, taking the Thirteen Factories (the sole warehouses of Western trade in China at the time).
  • March 1842: When pursuing the retreating Chinese army after the Battle of Ningpo, the British captured the nearby city of Cixi on 15 March.
  • August 1841: Battle of Amoy.
  • February 1841: Battle of First Bar.
  • October 1841: A British naval force bombarded and captured a fort on the outskirts of Ningbo.
  • May 1841: Following the capture of Canton, the British command and the governor-general of Canton agreed to a cease-fire in the region. Under the terms of the limited peace (later widely referred to as "The Ransom of Canton"), the British were paid to withdraw beyond the Bogue forts, an action they completed by 31 May.
  • July 1840: British forces captured Chusan.
  • May 1841: In 1841, during the First Opium War, British forces led by Captain Charles Elliot occupied Canton after the fighting subsided. This marked a significant moment in the conflict between Britain and China over trade and opium.
  • July 1840: British forces captured Chusan.
  • May 1841: Following the capture of Canton, the British command and the governor-general of Canton agreed to a cease-fire in the region. Under the terms of the limited peace (later widely referred to as "The Ransom of Canton"), the British were paid to withdraw beyond the Bogue forts, an action they completed by 31 May.
  • October 1841: A British naval force bombarded and captured a fort on the outskirts of Ningbo.
  • June 1842: After the Battle of Woosung, the British captured the towns of Wusong and Baoshan.
  • September 1841: The Qing army retook the city of Xiamen and restored order.
  • June 1842: The mouth of the Huangpu River was captured by the British fleet.
  • January 1841: In 1841, during the First Opium War, British forces led by Admiral Sir Hugh Gough and Captain Charles Elliot achieved a significant victory in the Second Battle of Chuenpi. The British fleet destroyed 11 Chinese junks and captured the Humen forts, solidifying their military occupation of the territory.
  • May 1841: On 25 May, and the British counter-attacked, taking the last four Qing forts above Canton and bombarding the city. The Qing army fled in panic when the city heights were taken, and the British pursued them into the countryside.

1. Convention of Chuenpi

Was an agreement between the British Empire and the Qing Dynasty during the First Opium War.

  • January 1841: British Commodore Bremer took formal possession of Hong Kong.
  • January 1841: In 1841, during the First Opium War, the forts in Chusan were restored to the Qing Dynasty on 21 January. The ceremony was conducted by Captain James Scott, who was serving as the temporary governor of the fort at Chuenpi.
  • January 1841: In 1841, during the First Opium War, the forts in Chusan were restored to the Qing Dynasty on 21 January. The ceremony was conducted by Captain James Scott, who was serving as the temporary governor of the fort at Chuenpi.

2. Treaty of Nanking

Was the peace treaty which ended the First Opium War.

  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).
  • June 1843: The Treaty of Nanking was a peace treaty which ended the First Opium War (Great Britain left the territories occupied in Qing China).

Selected Sources

  • The Opening to China Part I: the First Opium War, the United States, and the Treaty of Wangxia, 1839–1844. Office of the Historian. Retrieved on 30 march 2024 on https://history.state.gov/milestones/1830-1860/china-1