The extension of British commerce caused the first Chinese war. The Government not only loathed the "Fan Kwei," or "foreign devils," but objected to the use of opium which the merchants sold. The destruction of about £2,000,000 worth of opium by Chinese officials, and the insult offered to Her Majesty's representative, Captain Elliot, R.N., led to the declaration of war against China, and a force under Brigadier-General Burrell was dispatched to China in June 1840, but following an attack on Ting-hae-hien the Chinese opened negotiations for peace, and after protracted pourparlers they agreed early in 1841 to pay an indemnity, and to cede the island of Hong Kong. In accordance with the treaty the island was occupied by the British, but this was resented by the Chinese, who had determined not to carry out the terms agreed upon. Hostilities were consequently recommenced, and an expedition sent up the Canton River, where it quickly dealt with the batteries at Wantong, landed a body of British and Indian infantry, and captured considerably over 1,000 Chinese soldiers without losing a man. Pursuing its way up the river, the expedition imposed severe punishment upon the different forts, and the Chinese again sued for peace, mainly, however, for the purpose of gaining time to bring up reinforcements. The forts at Canton were silenced, and on May 24th, 1841, the British troops landed and carried the fortified heights, the 18th Royal Irish and the 49th charging in brilliant style. A flag of truce was hoisted on May 26th, and as a result of pourparlers £4,250,000 sterling was agreed to be paid for the evacuation of Canton, which was to be opened to trade.

The Emperor had no intention of carrying out any such agreement—on the contrary he issued a mandate for the extermination of the British. As a result of this flagrant breach of faith, an expedition was sent to the Island of Amoy, and appeared before the city of Amoy on August 25th. Two hours' bombardment sufficed to demoralise the garrison, despite their 500 pieces of cannon, and a force of troops was landed. Chusan was retaken, the military depot of Chinghai stormed, and the fortified and important city of Ningpo captured. A determined effort was made on March 10th, 1842, to retake it, but despite the surprise the enemy was beaten off. Later the British left Ningpo and again proceeded up-river, attacking Tsekee on March 15th, capturing the heights of Segon and forcing the Chankee pass ere returning to Ningpo on March 17th. In May Ningpo was evacuated, and the fortified city of Chapoo at the mouth of the Shanghai River attacked and a landing effected. In June Woosung and Poonshau, and the city of Shangee, were captured, and with the aid of the 98th Regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell (afterwards Lord Clyde), which now reinforced the expedition, the city of Chin-Kiang was attacked, and after a severe struggle taken on July 21st, 1842. Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Hugh (afterwards Viscount) Gough, whose decoration from Dr. Payne's collection is used to illustrate the medal awarded for this campaign, led his army to the ancient capital Nankin, which was reached on August 9th, 1842. The demonstration sufficed to bring the enemy to reason, and a treaty of peace was signed, the indemnity paid, the ports of Amoy, Ningpo, Foo-choo-foo, and Shanghai opened to British commerce, and Hong Kong ceded to us.

The army of about 3,000 men was composed of the 18th Royal Irish, 26th Cameronians (which lost nearly 600 men out of 900, by disease, before Canton fell), 49th, 55th (which particularly distinguished itself at the assault on the city of Chin-Kiang), 98th, 37th Madras Infantry, Royal and Indian Artillery, and a Naval Brigade, including marines, also took a prominent part.

The First China Medal, 1842.—In January 1843 the grant of a medal was made to commemorate "the signal successes of Her Majesty's Naval and Military forces," both European and Native, upon the coast and in the interior of the Empire of China. On the obverse is the diademed head of Queen Victoria facing to the left, with the legend VICTORIA REGINA on either side, and on the truncation of the head W. WYON, R.A. This was the first medal issued with the Queen's head. On the reverse is a trophy of naval and military weapons, very badly disposed, with an oval shield bearing the Royal Arms in the centre, the whole backed by a palm tree, and above ARMIS EXPOSCERE PACEM, with CHINA on a plain panel in the exergue, and underneath the date 1842. The medal is 1? in. in diameter, with a plain straight German-silver clasp soldered on for suspension from a ribbon of red with broad yellow edges, the same width as the diameter of the medal. The names of the recipients, and the number of the regiment or name of ship, were impressed upon the edge in bold Roman capital letters. The reverse of this medal has been used ever since for presentation to troops taking part in Chinese wars, the date 1842 being deleted, and fishtail bars recording the engagements and dates used to indicate the campaign.