January 7, 1841 · Pearl River Delta Theater
January 7, 1841
The first major naval engagement of the First Opium War. British warships under Commodore Gordon Bremer destroyed a Chinese war junk squadron and captured the Chuenpee fort guarding the Pearl River approach to Canton. The Chinese defenders fought bravely but were outgunned by British steam-powered vessels and superior naval gunnery.
Commanders