This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (June 2021) |
First Battle of Taku Forts | |||||||
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Part of the Second Opium War | |||||||
![]() Map of the Peiho River forts, showing British and French ships | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Strength | |||||||
British: 1,032[1] French: 700 (land force)[1] | unknown | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
British: 5 killed 16 wounded[1] French: 6 killed 61 wounded[1] | unknown |
The First Battle of Taku Forts (Chinese: 第一次大沽口之戰) was the first attack of the Anglo-French alliance against the Taku Forts along the Hai River in Tianjin, China, on 20 May 1858, during the Second Opium War.
The British and French sent a squadron of gunboats, under Rear-Admiral Admiral Michael Seymour, to attack China's Taku Forts. The battle ended as an allied success. However, the first phase of the Second Opium War would end with the Treaties of Tianjin and the forts were returned to the hands of the Qing Army, leading to the Second Battle of Taku Forts in 1859.