#318 - Opium War 3: Up In Smoke

The History of China

Chris Stewart

History

4.6 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 1 February 2026

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Lin Zexu believed moral clarity and the largest drug bust in history could end the opium crisis and avert war. Yet, as his solution drained into Humen Bay, so too did the last hope of peace between China and Britain.Time Period Covered:1836–June 1839 Major Historical Figures: The Qing Empire:The Daoguang Emperor (Aisin-Gioro Minning) [r. 1820–1850]Lin Zexu, Imperial Commissioner and Governor-General of Huguang [1785–1850]Deng Tingzhen, Governor-General of Liangguang [1776–1846]Huang Juezi, Minister and court official (opium policy advocate) The British Empire:King William IV [r. 1830–1837]Queen Victoria [r. 1837–1901]Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, Foreign Secretary [1784–1865]Charles Elliot, Chief Superintendent of British Trade in China [1801–1875]Lancelot Dent, Opium trader and head of Dent & Co. [1799–1875]James Matheson, Merchant and political advocate for war [1796–1878] Major Sources Cited:Fairbank, John K. Trade and Diplomacy on the China CoastPlatt, Stephen R. Imperial Twilight: The Opium War and the End of China’s Last Golden AgeWakeman, Frederic, Jr. “The Canton Trade and the Opium War,” in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 10Wakeman, Frederic, Jr. The Fall of Imperial ChinaLovell, Julia. The Opium War: Drugs, Dreams and the Making of China Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	You're listening to an Airwave Media podcast.
0:04.6	Life's full of big money decisions. Dividend versus growth stocks.
0:08.8	Tapping home equity, even navigating tariffs.
0:11.5	And for every smart tip out there, there's another one that sounds smart but isn't.
0:15.7	That's where NerdWallet's Smart Money podcast comes in.
0:18.5	I'm Sean Piles, a certified financial planner professional. And I'm Elizabeth Ayola. On NerdWallet Smart Money Podcasts in. I'm Sean Piles, a certified financial planner professional.
0:21.2	And I'm Elizabeth Ayola.
0:22.7	On NerdWallet Smart Money Podcasts, our finance journalists do the homework so you can make
0:26.9	confident wealth-building moves.
0:28.8	Whether you're building your portfolio or protecting it, we've got the facts and a little
0:32.8	fun along the way.
0:33.9	Follow NerdWallet Smart Money Podcasts on your favorite podcast app.
0:37.0	Music the way. Follow NerdWallet Smart Money Podcasts on your favorite podcast app.
0:46.9	Hello and welcome to the history of China.
0:53.5	Episode 318, Up in Smoke.
1:01.7	A war more unjust in its origin, a war more calculated in its progress to cover this country with permanent disgrace I do not know and have not read of.
1:06.2	William Gladstone, the House of Commons, 1839.
1:14.4	By what reason, then, should these foreigners send in return a poisonous drug, which involves in destruction those very natives of China? Lin Zashu to Queen
1:20.9	Victoria, 1840. If your people are virtuous, they will desist from the evil practice.
1:28.6	And if your officers are incorruptible and obey their orders, no opium can enter your country.
1:36.1	Sir Henry Pottinger, two chain negotiators, 1842.
1:41.4	You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Chris Stewart, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Chris Stewart and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.