USS Congress first American warship to visit China

Background. Captain John Dandridge Henley, born in 1781, rose to the rank of captain in March 1817. He had previously served as a midshipman in the First Barbary War under Commodore Edward Preble. By early 1819, Henley was commanding the U.S. man-of-war Congress. This vessel was the first American warship to visit China, operating during the era of the Canton System, which restricted trade to specific ports and licensed merchants.

Arrival at Lintin Island. The USS Congress landed at Lintin Island, located off the coast of Canton. This location was significant as the Canton System focused Western trade on this southern port. The arrival marked a milestone in American maritime history, as it was the first time an American warship visited China. The visit occurred early in 1819, according to the supplied passage; a legacy record places the landing on November 3, 1819, but that date is unverified and is not asserted as an event fact.

Canton System Context. The visit occurred within the framework of the Canton System, which controlled trade by focusing it on Canton. Under this system, Chinese merchants known as Hongs managed trade, and a local merchant stood as guarantor for foreign vessels. The Qianlong Emperor had restricted trade to licensed Chinese merchants, creating a specific commercial environment that the USS Congress entered.