Qishan (Manchu official)

Qishan (Chinese: 琦善; Manchu: ᡴᡳᡧᠠᠨ; Möllendorff: Kišan; Abkai: Kixan; 1786–1854) was a Manchu nobleman and high official during the late Qing dynasty known for his role during the First Opium War.

Background and early career

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.

First Opium War

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.