Campaigners › Naval Commanders
Guan Tianpei
Qing naval commander of Guangdong who rebuilt the Humen forts and died defending them when British forces stormed the Bogue in February 1841
In a harbour at dawn, many wooden junks with pale battened sails lie moored in rows on still blue water; bales sit on the stone quay in the foreground, a small boat with two people crosses the water, and a tower stands on a far island under a rising sun.
Also known as Zi Zhongyin · Hao Zipu · Shi Zhongjie
Guan Tianpei, courtesy name Zhongyin, known as Zipu, came from Shanyang in Jiangsu and rose from the ranks to brigade general at Suzhou and Songjiang. He was commended for convoying grain tribute by sea in 1826 and acted as provincial commander of Jiangnan in 1833. Appointed naval commander-in-chief of Guangdong in 1834, he rebuilt the forts at Humen, cast new cannon and strengthened the defences of the Pearl River mouth. During Lin Zexu's campaign against opium he led the fleet in clashes with British ships at Chuanbi and Guanyong in 1839. When the British attacked Humen in February 1841 he held the Jingyuan fort without reinforcements and died there with dozens of wounds. The court granted him posthumous office and the name Zhongjie, enrolled him in the Shrine of Loyalty and built a temple in his honour.
Life and times
Dates 1781 CE–1841 CE