Capture of Chusan

First Capture of Chusan
Part of the First Opium War
British and Chinese officials on board HMS Wellesley a day before the capture. Karl Gützlaff (centre) served as interpreter.
Date 5–6 July 1840 Location Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China Coordinates: 30°0′24″N 122°6′24″E / 30.00667°N 122.10667°E / 30.00667; 122.10667 Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom British East India Company	Qing China
Commanders and leaders
James Bremer George Burrell	Zhang Chaofa
Strength
3,650 troops	1,000–1,200 troops (est.)
Casualties and losses
1 wounded	25 killed (est.) 91 guns captured

 United Kingdom

The first capture of Chusan by British forces in China occurred on 5–6 July 1840 during the First Opium War. The British captured Chusan (Zhoushan), the largest island of an archipelago of that name.

On 4 July 1840, the Wellesley, Conway, Alligator, and Rattlesnake arrived in the anchorage off Chusan harbour. In the afternoon, Captain John Vernon Fletcher of the Wellesley, Viscount Robert Jocelyn, and interpreter Karl Gützlaff were sent on board the junk of a Chinese admiral, who was also governor of the Chusan islands. They delivered a written message from Commodore James Bremer, commander-in-chief of the British naval forces, and Brigadier George Burrell, commander-in-chief of the land forces, to surrender the island of Chusan. Bremer and Burrell claimed the occupation was necessary after the "insulting and unwarrantable conduct of the Canton high officers, 'Lin' and 'Tang,' last year, towards H. M.'s specially appointed Chief Superintendent Elliot, and British subjects." Part of the message stated:

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