John Weddell's venture to China
- When
- 1637–1640
- Where
- Macau; Chinese fort; Canton suburbs; England
- Episodes
- 4
John Weddell commanded a six-ship venture financed by Sir William Courten. Four of these vessels arrived at Macau in July 1637. The expedition involved English forces storming a Chinese fort in August 1637 and the detention of merchants in Canton. Weddell returned to England in 1640.
Episodes
- Detention of Merchants in Canton
Six merchants were imprisoned in Canton suburbs for over three months in autumn 1637.
- Arrival at Macau
Four ships from the Weddell fleet reached Macau in July 1637 after departing England in April 1636.
- Storming of a Chinese Fort
English forces attacked a Chinese fort in August 1637 and hoisted their flag.
- Return to England
John Weddell returned to England in 1640 after the venture.
Background and detail
Background. John Weddell, an English sea captain who served the Muscovy and East India Companies, was appointed in early 1636 to command six ships. These vessels were financed by Sir William Courten, an interloper who held a royal patent for East Indies trade granted in December 1635.
Voyage and Arrival. Four of the six ships departed southern England in April 1636. After a lengthy journey, these vessels arrived at Macau in July 1637. The remaining two ships are not accounted for in the supplied passages regarding their arrival.
Conflict and Detention. In August 1637, English forces stormed a Chinese fort and raised their flag. Subsequently, in the autumn of that year, six English and Scottish merchants were detained and imprisoned in the suburbs of Canton for over three months.
People involved
- John Weddell · English sea captain and commander
- Sir William Courten · Financier and interloper
Sources
- John Weddell Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-15
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.