Borjigit Qishan 博爾濟吉特·琦善 |
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Viceroy of Liangjiang | |
In office 1825–1827 |
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Preceded by | Wei Yuanyu |
Succeeded by | Jiang Youxian |
Viceroy of Sichuan | |
In office 1829–1831 |
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Preceded by | Dai Sanxi |
Succeeded by | E Shan |
Viceroy of Zhili | |
In office 1831–1840 |
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Preceded by | Tu Zhishen |
Viceroy of Liangguang | |
In office 1840–1841 |
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Preceded by | Lin Zexu |
Succeeded by | Qitian |
Personal details | |
Born | 1790 Beijing |
Died | 1854 (aged 63–64) Yangzhou |
Relations | Chengde (father) |
Posthumous name | Wenqin 文勤 |
Major work | Signed Convention of Chuenpee |
Qishan[nb] (Chinese: 琦善; Manchu: Cišan; 1790–1854) was a Manchu nobleman and high official during the late Qing Dynasty, who is known for his role during the First Opium War.
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Qishan came from the Borjigit clan and belonged to the Manchu Plain Yellow Banner in the Eight Banners. In 1808, he joined the Board of Punishment as an assistant department director and he subsequently held a number of important positions in the Qing government including the Viceroy of Liangjiang from 1825 to 1827.
Following Lin Zexu's failure to push back the British in the First Opium War, the Daoguang Emperor ordered Qishan to replace Lin as the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi and entrusted him with the delicate task of negotiating a peace treaty with the British. Without getting appropriate sanction from the throne, Qishan agreed to the abortive Convention of Chuenpee with the British on 20 January 1841. Among other things, the convention ceded Hong Kong Island to the British and that the Qing Empire pay an indemnity of 6 million dollars to the British. Because of this, Qishan was dismissed from his post and condemned to death, but the sentence was later commuted to banishment.
After the termination of hostilies in the Opium War, Qishan was reinstated in 1842 and he subsequently held a number of prominent positions in the government. Among other things, he served as the Qing imperial resident in Lhasa. After the outbreak of the Taiping Rebellion, Qishan took active part in the suppression of the rebel forces and he died on the battlefield in 1854, trying to prevent the Taipings from capturing Jiangsu.
Government offices | ||
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Preceded by Wei Yuanyu |
Viceroy of Liangjiang 1825-1827 |
Succeeded by Jiang Youxian |
Preceded by Lin Zexu |
Viceroy of Liangguang 1840-1841 |
Succeeded by Qitian |