Battle of Canton (March 1841)

The First Battle of Canton (Chinese: 第一次廣州之戰) was fought between British and Chinese forces in Canton, Guangdong Province, China, on 18 March 1841 during the First Opium War. The capture led to the hoisting of the Union Jack on the British factory in Canton and the resumption of trade between the British and the Chinese.^[4]

First Battle of Canton
Part of First Opium War
Map of the naval operations at Canton, 18 March 1841
Date 18 March 1841 Location Canton, Guangdong, China 23.1104°N 113.2438°E / 23.1104; 113.2438 Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom British East India Company	Qing China
Commanders and leaders
Charles Elliot Gordon Bremer Thomas Herbert	Qishan Yang Fang
Strength
9 ships[1]	5 forts
Casualties and losses
7 killed[2]	400 casualties[1] 123 guns captured[2]
The official Chinese commander was Yishan, as a substitute for Qishan, but he had not reached Canton even by the time the battle ended.[3]

Narrative

Following the Convention of Chuenpi in January 1841, which among other clauses ceded the island of Hong Kong to Great Britain, the furious Qing Daoguang Emperor fired Imperial Commissioner Qishan. In his place the emperor appointed his nephew Yishan as "General-pacifier of the Rebellious" (jìngnì 靖逆), with Lungwan (Long Wen, 隆文) and Yang Fang as ministerial attaches to assist him.^[5][6] On 20 March, British Plenipotentiary Charles Elliot announced the re-opening of trade after negotiations with Yang Fang as Lungwan and Yishan did not arrive in Canton until 14 April.^[7]