Lin Zexu

Lin Zexu
An 1850 drawing of Lin
Viceroy of Liangguang
In office
21 January 1840 – 3 October 1840
Preceded byDeng Tingzhen
Succeeded byQishan
Viceroy of Shaan-Gan
In office
1845 (acting)
Preceded byBuyantai
Succeeded byYang Yizeng (acting)
Viceroy of Yun-Gui
In office
30 April 1847 – 10 September 1849
Preceded byLi Xingyuan (Li Hsing-yüan)[1]
Succeeded byCheng Yuzai (Ch'eng Yü-tsai)[1]
Viceroy of Huguang
In office
February 1837 – December 1838
Preceded byNergingge
Succeeded byZhou Tianjue
Personal details
Born(1785-08-30)30 August 1785
Houguan County, Fujian, Qing Empire
Died22 November 1850(1850-11-22) (aged 65)
Puning County, Guangdong, Qing Empire
RelationsShen Baozhen (son-in-law)
EducationJinshi 進士 degree
OccupationPhilosopher, politician
Military service
Battles/warsFirst Opium War
Lin Zexu
Traditional Chinese林則徐
Simplified Chinese林则徐
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLín Zéxú
Gwoyeu RomatzyhLin Tzershyu
Wade–GilesLin2 Tsê2-hsü2
IPA[lǐn tsɤ̌.ɕy̌]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationLàhm Jākchèuih
JyutpingLam4 Zak1-ceoi4
IPA[lɐm˩ tsɐk̚˥.tsʰɵɥ˩]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJLîm Chek-sû
Tâi-lôLîm Tsik-tshî
Eastern Min
Fuzhou BUCLìng Cáik-sṳ̀
Courtesy name
Traditional Chinese元撫
Simplified Chinese元抚
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinYuánfǔ
[ɥɛ̌nfù]
Gwoyeu RomatzyhYuanfuu
Wade–GilesYüan2-fu3

Lin Zexu (30 August 1785 – 22 November 1850), courtesy name Yuanfu, was a Chinese political philosopher and politician. He was a head of state (Viceroy), Governor General, scholar-official, and under the Daoguang Emperor of the Qing dynasty best known for his role in the First Opium War of 1839–42. He was from Fuzhou, Fujian Province. Lin's forceful opposition to the opium trade was a primary catalyst for the First Opium War. He is praised for his constant position on the "moral high ground" in his fight, but he is also blamed for a rigid approach which failed to account for the domestic and international complexities of the problem.[2] The Emperor endorsed the hardline policies and anti-drugs movement advocated by Lin, but placed all responsibility for the resulting disastrous Opium War onto Lin.[3]