George Macartney, 1st Earl of Macartney (born George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney ; May 14, 1737 - May 31, 1806 ) - the first British envoy in China .
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| Awards and prizes | member of the Royal Society of London |
Biography
The representative of the pillar of the Scottish nobility. Studied in Dublin . In 1764 he was sent to the court of Catherine II for the implementation of the Paninsky plan for creating a “ northern chord ”. According to Casanova , he had the audacity to make a child the maid of honor Khitrovo , for which, at the request of the empress, he was recalled to his homeland.
In the years 1769-72. Member of Parliament and Head of Irish Affairs. In 1775 he was sent to govern in the Caribbean . In the years 1780-86. - Governor of Madras in British India.
Macartney Embassy
In 1792 he received the title of viscount from the king and was placed at the head of the British embassy to the court of the Chinese emperor Qianlong . The embassy's goal was to obtain trade preferences from British officials for British entrepreneurs. George McCartney was a well-educated man and experienced diplomat. The mission was sent at the expense of the British East India Company, but at the same time represented the interests of the English government. He was ordered by promises and threats to open up for the British Canton and a number of other ports, as well as the establishment of British representation in the Chinese capital.
Like the envoys of other European monarchs before him, Macartney refused to perform the humiliating rite of triple kneeling with an earthly bow ( koutou ) and returned to Europe with nothing.
Later
Despite the unsuccessful outcome of his embassy, Macartney was promoted to count in 1794, and two years later went to manage the newly acquired Cape Colony in South Africa . In 1798 he retired due to health reasons. Due to the celibacy of the count, his titles and possessions became black .
Notes
Literature
- Barrow, John , “The life of Macartney” (2 vols., London, 1807)
- British Encyclopedia Biography
- Labutina T. L. British Ambassador George Macartney and his ideas about Catherine Russia // New and recent history. - 2016. - No. 3. - S. 166-180.