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Guan Tianpei's portrayal

Guan Tianpei

Guan Tianpei (Chinese: 关天培; 1781-1841) was a patriotic general who bravely fought and resisted the British invaders during the early 19th century. He was the navy commander of the Guangdong province.

Early Life

Guan Tianpei was born in 1781 in Huaian fu, Shanyang county in Jiangsu province. His courtesy name is Zhongyin (仲因). In the eighth year of the Emperor Jiaqing (1803), he passed the imperial examination for military service, and he was successively assigned to the Bazong（把总）, Qianzong（千总）, Shoubei（守备）,Youji（游击）, Canjiang （参将）and vice general（参将）, and these were the military ranking system during the Qing dynasty. In the sixth year of the Emperor Daoguang (1826), he was assigned to the vice-general of the Taihu camp in Jiangsu province. In 1827, Guan was assigned to the army officer in Susong county in Jiangnan. In the thirteenth year of the Emperor Daoguang (1833), Guan was assigned to the military commander of the jiangnan area.

Anti-Opium Movement

In the fourteenth year of the Emperor Daoguang (1834), Guan was assigned to the navy commander of the Guangdong province. When he arrived at Guangdong, he devoted himself to strengthen the coastal defense affairs. In the nineteenth year of the Emperor Daoguang (1839), Lin Zexu was assigned to imperial commissioner to prohibit the use of opium in Guangzhou. When Lin arrived, Guan was influenced by Lin. Guan mobilized his navy to coordinate with Lin to prohibit the Opium trade. They captured about 2.37 million opium from the British, American, and French merchants.

Resisting Foreign Aggression

On July 1840, British sailors tyrannized innocent villagers in Tsim Sha Tsui, and one villager was killed. Lin Zexu strongly protested, and demanded the Chief Superintendent of the Trade of British Subjects in China to hand over the murder to the Qing government. The British superintendent did not accept the demand, and expanded the invasion, and dispatched British force to invaded the coastal area of Guangdong. Guan Tianpei led his navy and bravely resisted, and defeated the British force successively.

Battle Between the Qing and the British Forces

Battle Of Chuenpi

In 1839, British warships attacked Qing navy in Chuenpi, Guan Tianpei commanded his navy and fought back, British warships were heavily inflicted by Guan's navy. In the twentieth year of the Emperor Daoguang (1840), Lin Zexu was dismissed by the emperor Daoguang. Qishan replaced Lin's position. Qi gave orders to remove Guan's coastal defense affairs by reducing number of navy solider, and this gave the British forces the chance to invade. Many Guangdong local government officials hope to make peace with the British forces. But Guan Tianpei was not swayed, and he was still resolute, and he was preparing to fight the British forces. Before the battle started, he dispatched a solider to take his old clothes and tooth back to his hometown to give to his relatives.

On January 1841, British forces captured Shajiao (沙角）and Dajiao fort (大角炮台). Thus, Weiyuan Fort lost the protective screen. Guan Tianpei was defending with a few soldier on the front line. Guan requested Qishan to reinforce, but Qi did not send army to support Guan. Guan used his money for army food supplement, and he encouraged his soldier to fight the British forces.

On February 26th, British forces massively attacked Humen. Guan led 400 soldier to fight back, several forts were captured by British force. A soldier asked Guan to retreat, but Guan refused and kept fighting. Guan gave his commander seal to a soldier and asked him to take it back to the emperor. A shell fired and hit Guan, Guan died with 400 soldier.