Opium trade between British India and Qing China (1780-1842)

1. Qing restricts Western trade to Guangzhou

   Jan 1, 1757Labels: Guangzhou, Canton System

   • Britannica
   • Britannica Summary

2. East India Company creates Bihar opium monopoly

   Jan 1, 1773Labels: East India, Bihar

   • Cambridge
   • Engelsberg

3. British India opium exports to China begin rising

   Jan 1, 1781Labels: British India, China trade

   • Opium War

4. EIC uses Calcutta auctions to sell Bengal opium

   Jan 1, 1793Labels: Calcutta auctions, East India

   • History Opium

5. Qing government reaffirms ban on opium imports

   Jan 1, 1796Labels: Qing government

   • ChinaKnowledge

6. Company shifts Bengal opium toward direct management

   Jan 1, 1797Labels: East India

   • Engelsberg

7. Jardine and Matheson form major Canton-based trading firm

   Jan 1, 1832Labels: Jardine Matheson, Canton

   • Jardine History
   • William Jardine

8. Britain ends EIC monopoly on China tea trade

   Jan 1, 1833Labels: British Parliament, East India

   • UK Parliament
   • Hansard

9. Napier Affair strains Canton trade relations

   Jul 1, 1834Labels: Lord Napier, Canton

   • Napier Text
   • Britannica

10. Lin Zexu appointed to suppress the opium trade

    Dec 1, 1838Labels: Lin Zexu, Daoguang Emperor

    • Britannica

11. Confiscated foreign opium destroyed at Humen

    Jun 3, 1839Labels: Humen, Lin Zexu

    • Humen Event
    • Britannica Lin

12. British forces seize Zhoushan in early campaign

    Jul 5, 1840Labels: Zhoushan, British forces

    • Chusan 1840
    • Opium War

13. Convention of Chuenpi drafted but rejected

    Jan 20, 1841Labels: Convention of

    • Chuenpi

14. British victory at Zhenjiang opens path to Nanjing

    Jul 21, 1842Labels: Zhenjiang, British victory

    • Zhenjiang
    • Britannica War

15. Treaty of Nanjing ends war and reshapes trade

    Aug 29, 1842Labels: Treaty of, Hong Kong

    • Britannica Treaty
    • Britannica War