Lin Tse-Hsü

Lin Zexu

 or Lin Tse-hsü

(born Aug. 30, 1785, Houguan, Fujian province, China—died Nov. 22, 1850, Chaozhu, Guangdong province) Leading Chinese scholar and official of the Qing dynasty, accepted as a national hero for his stance against the British before the Anglo-Chinese Opium War (1839–42). Lin passed the highest examination in the Chinese examination system and entered the Hanlin Academy and government. Having suggested to the emperor ways to suppress the opium trade, Lin found himself appointed imperial commissioner and dispatched to Guangzhou (Canton) to deal with the problem directly. He was so successful that, in retaliation for his destruction of their opium stocks, the British ravaged large parts of southern China, and Lin was quickly dismissed. He served loyally at his post of exile and was soon called back to important service. He died on his way to help suppress what became known as the Taiping Rebellion.

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Lin Tse-Hsü 

Born Aug. 30, 1785, in the district of Houkuan, province of Fukien; died Nov. 22, 1850, in the district of Ch’aochou, province of Kuangtung. Chinese statesman.

Given broad powers to combat the opium trade, he prohibited the trade in Kuangtung in 1839 and confiscated and destroyed 20,000 boxes of opium belonging to British and American merchants. During the Anglo-Chinese War of 1840–42 (the first Opium War), which was instigated by Great Britain, Lin Tsehsü was in charge of the defense of Kuangtung and organized detachments of people’s militia; he was a proponent of resolute resistance. The growing influence of the capitulationist group at the Ch’ing court led to Lin Tse-hsü’s ouster in 1840 and exile to East Turkestan. After his return from exile in 1845, he served as governor of various provinces.