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China: Chen Huangcheng (1776-1842), Qing naval commander in the First Opium War (1839-1842)

China: Chen Huangcheng (1776-1842), Qing naval commander in the First Opium War (1839-1842)

Chen Huacheng (Chinese:陈化成)(1776-1842), was a native of Tongan, Fujian. He became naval forces commander of Fujian in 1830 (10th year of the Daoguang reign) and provincial military commander of Jiangnan in 1840. He cast bronze cannons, made gun powder, built batteries, and prepared for the defense of Wusong.

In 1842 when the British fleet came to attack, he opposed Jiangnan and Jiangxi governor-general Niu Jian's fear of the enemy and seeking of peace, waving the Qing banner and shelling British ships. He was killed in battle at the Western Wusong Battery during hand-to-hand fighting with the British invaders.

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