Capture of Chusan (1841)

The second capture of Chusan occurred on 1 October 1841 during the First Opium War when British forces captured the city of Dinghai, capital of the Chusan (Zhoushan) islands off the east Chinese coast.

Second Capture of Chusan
Part of the First Opium War
Second taking of Chusan
Date 29 September – 1 October 1841 Location Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom British East India Company	Qing China
Commanders and leaders
Hugh Gough William Parker	Ge Yunfei (KIA)[1]
Strength
13 ships[2] 2,607 troops[3]	Unknown
Casualties and losses
2 killed[3] 27 wounded[3]	1,500 casualties[4] 136 guns captured[5]

The fortified city of Dinghai, with a population of 30,000, was defended by the Chinese under the command of Keo. After a brief one-sided seaborne operation involving the 55th Foot, the city fell to the far superior British forces which captured 100 iron guns, 36 brass cannon, and 540 gingalls (heavy muskets or light guns mounted on swivels) for the loss of 2 British killed and 28 wounded.[6][7]

Gallery

• 
  Map of the capture
• 
  Attack on the heights of Chusan

Notes

1. MacPherson 1843, p. 216
2. MacPherson 1843, pp. 358–359
3. MacPherson 1843, p. 374
4. MacPherson 1843, p. 217
5. MacPherson 1843, p. 375
6. China, in a Series of Views, Displaying the Scenery, Architecture ..., Volume 1. p. 92.
7. The British Empire, Army Campaigns, Tinghai, September 1841 http://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armycampaigns/asia/china/opiumwar.htm

References

• MacPherson, Duncan (1843). Two Years in China (2nd ed.). London: Saunders and Otley

Further reading

• Murray, Alexander (1843). Doings in China. London: Richard Bentley. pp. 23–42.