Atlas of Battles

battle, nineteenth century

Battle of Canton

Battle of Canton was a battle fought on 23 October 1856 at Guangzhou, in what is now People's Republic of China; it lasted 13 days. It was part of Second Opium War, which ran from 1856 to 1860. The recorded result: British victory. Recorded strength: 9 ships; 580 against Unknown.

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Part of the destroyed walls of Canton, from the Dutch Folly Fort. From a sketch by an officer engaged in the operations.
Part of the destroyed walls of Canton, from the Dutch Folly Fort. From a sketch by an officer engaged in the operations.. Not identified, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought23 October 1856lasted 13 days
WhereGuangzhou, People's Republic of China23.112N, 113.263E
OutcomeBritish victory
BelligerentsUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and IrelandagainstQing China
Casualties and losses2 killed; 12 woundedand18–19 killed & wounded
Part ofSecond Opium War1856 to 1860

Where it sits in Second Opium War

Battle of Canton, 1856Capture of the French Folly Fort, 1856Battle of the Bogue, 1856Battle of the Pearl River Forts, 1856Battle of Macao Fort, 1857Battle of Escape Creek, 1857Battle of Fatshan Creek, 1857Battle of Canton, 1857Battle of Taku Forts, 1858Battle of Taku Forts, 1859Battle of Taku Forts, 1860Battle of Zhangjiawan, 1860Battle of Palikao, 186018561860Battle of Canton, 1856
13 placed engagements of Second Opium War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date23 October 1856
to 5 November 1856
PlaceGuangzhou, People's Republic of China
23.112N, 113.263E
KindBattle, nineteenth century
Strength9 ships; 580Unknown
Casualties and losses2 killed; 12 wounded18–19 killed & wounded
Commanders
Battle of CantonBattle of CantonBattle of GuangzhouBattle of CantonCapture of the French Folly FortBattle of CantonBattle of CantonBattle of GuangzhouShenzhenZhuhaiMacauQingyuanJiangmenZhaoqingHeyuanHong Kong100 km23.112N, 113.263E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

Contested ground: this site was fought over 8 times between 1841 and 1929.

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1856

Battle of Canton is one of 3,507 engagements of the 19th century in the atlas and one of 339 in present-day People's Republic of China.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q16207110, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Canton (1856), revision 1370436099, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.