Battle of Fatshan Creek

Significance

The Battle of Fatshan Creek was a naval engagement in the early phase of the Second Opium War in which the Royal Navy, under Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour, destroyed the Cantonese fleet of Qing China. The action was preparatory in character: by eliminating Chinese naval opposition on the waterway, Seymour secured the approach to Canton and enabled the subsequent advance on the city. The engagement thus removed the principal maritime obstacle to British operations in the Canton delta at a critical stage of the war.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (2)