Macao Expedition
| Macau Expedition | |
|---|---|
| 1809 | |
| Chronological list of Wars and Campaigns | |
| [[Image:|250px| ]] | |
| Location: Macau, China | |
| Combatants: | |
| East India Company: Bengal | The "French" |
| Result: Withdrawal | |
| Medals: | |
| Links: | |
| Category: Wars and Campaigns | |
Summary
Lord Minto sent the 1809 expedition to defend Portuguese colonial interests at Macao (Macau)[1] against the French after Napoleon occupied Portugal.
Seeing it as disrespectful, the Chinese objected and stopped trading with the East India Company. With no credible French threat to Macau, and not wishing to upset relations with China, the British withdrew and returned to India.
Major Thomas Mathias Weguelin[2] led the expedition, a local rank of Colonel was awarded to him for the expedition, to ensure rank seniority to any Portugese troops encountered. Then Colonel Weguelin, he participated in the Battle of Mauritius 1810-12 - the defence of another Portugese interest, serving as the Commissariat General.
Deployment
East India European Regiment: 200 rank and file
Volunteer Battalion: 650 Bengal flintlocks
European Artillery: 100 including x8 18pounders, x4 12pounders, 2 8inch mortars
Madras 30th Foot: 2 companies
Departed August 1808: Bengal
Arrived Oct 1808: Macau
Returned Feb 1809: Bengal[3]
Notes
- ↑ Macau Expedition in The History of India Vol 2, John Clark Marshman (1867)
- ↑ Dictionary Of Indian Biography C. E. Buckland, 1906
- ↑ East India Military Calendar Vol 1, p182-184