Lin Zexu | |
|---|---|
 An 1850 drawing of Lin | |
| Viceroy of Liangguang | |
| In office 21 January 1840 – 3 October 1840 | |
| Preceded by | Deng Tingzhen |
| Succeeded by | Qishan |
| Viceroy of Shaan-Gan | |
| In office 1845 (acting) | |
| Preceded by | Buyantai |
| Succeeded by | Yang Yizeng (acting) |
| Viceroy of Yun-Gui | |
| In office 30 April 1847 – 10 September 1849 | |
| Preceded by | Li Xingyuan (Li Hsing-yüan)[1] |
| Succeeded by | Cheng Yuzai (Ch'eng Yü-tsai)[1] |
| Viceroy of Huguang | |
| In office February 1837 – December 1838 | |
| Preceded by | Nergingge |
| Succeeded by | Zhou Tianjue |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 August 1785 Houguan County, Fujian, Qing Empire |
| Died | 22 November 1850 (aged 65) Puning County, Guangdong, Qing Empire |
| Relations | Shen Baozhen (son-in-law) |
| Education | Jinshi 進士 degree |
| Occupation | Philosopher, politician |
| Military service | |
| Battles/wars | First Opium War |
| Lin Zexu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 林則徐 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 林则徐 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Courtesy name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 元撫 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 元抚 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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]
- ^ a b China Provinces and Administrative Divisions
- ^ Spence (1999), p. 131.
- ^ Spence (1999), pp. 152–158.