An Authentic Account of an Embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China

Taken Chiefly from the Papers of His Excellency the Earl of Macartney

Bibliographic Data

ID19923658
AuthorsGeorge Staunton, George Thomas Staunton (corresponding author), George Sir Staunton
Year2012
Publication date2012-05-10
Open AccessYes
TypeBOOK
VenueAuthentic Account of an Embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China : Volume 2 (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherCambridge University Press (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1017/cbo9781139178617
OpenAlexW4241998910
Open LibraryOL29119377M
ISBN9781139178617
LanguageEN
Citations received22

George Leonard Staunton (1737–1801) arrived in China in 1792 as a member of a British delegation whose objective was to improve trade and establish better diplomatic relations with the Chinese, who, at the time, restricted economic activity with foreigners to the port of Canton (Guangzhou). Although the group managed to secure an audience with the Qianlong Emperor - to whom the British envoy Lord Macartney famously refused to kowtow - their mission failed. Staunton kept detailed notes throughout his time in China, and in 1797 this two-volume account of the visit was published, and later translated into French and German. Volume 2 describes in detail the Emperor's reception of the British delegation - including a description and discussion of the kowtowing incident - thus giving a rare glimpse into the Imperial court at a time when Westerners were almost never allowed access. Staunton also provides further descriptions of the delegation's travels around China

Ancient history · Archaeology · Art history · China · Delegation · Diplomacy · Emperor · George (robot) · German · Political science · Politics · Port (circuit theory) · Chinese history and philosophy · Engineering · Historical Influence and Diplomacy · History · Law · Scottish History and National Identity · description and travel · foreign relations · Great britain · Voyages and travels

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