Historedia
Person

Lord Elgin

Events
3
Episodes
8
Years
1848–1860

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Lord Elgin, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Lafontaine and Baldwin form first elected responsible-government ministry of the Province of Canada

    1848

    Role: Governor General

    1. 1848 · Province of CanadaReformers Win 1848 Elections

      Reformers achieved a decisive victory in the 1848 elections, creating the mandate for a responsible government ministry accountable to the elected Assembly.

    2. 1848 · Province of CanadaTransfer of Patronage Control

      The 1848 reforms included the effective transfer of control over patronage from the Governor to the elected ministry.

    3. 11 March 1848 · Parliament of the Province of CanadaSwearing-in of the Ministry

      Lord Elgin swore in the ministry of Lafontaine and Baldwin on 11 March 1848, establishing the first elected responsible-government ministry.

  2. Second Battle of Canton during the Second Anglo-Chinese War

    1857–1858

    Role: British High Commissioner

    1. 28 December 1857 · CantonBeginning of the Assault

      Lord Elgin ordered an Anglo-French force to take Canton, initiating the assault on 28 December 1857.

    2. 1858 · CantonOccupation Resistance

      Resistance formed in spring 1858, leading to assassination attempts and French reprisals.

    3. 1 January 1858 · CantonCapture of Canton

      The city was captured by 1 January 1858, resulting in significant casualties among defenders and inhabitants.

  3. Convention of Peking ends the Second Opium War; Old Summer Palace burned

    1860

    Role: British Diplomat

    1. 18 October 1860 (order given; destruction 18–19 October by Western reckoning) · Old Summer PalaceBurning of the Old Summer Palace

      Lord Elgin ordered the destruction of the Old Summer Palace in retaliation for the torture and execution of prisoners, causing incalculable cultural loss.

    2. 24 October 1860 · Ministry of RitesSigning of the Convention of Peking

      Prince Gong signed the Convention of Peking, ratifying the Treaty of Tientsin and ending the Second Opium War, while the Xianfeng Emperor had fled.

Sources

  1. Responsible government Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-29
  2. Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-28
  3. Battle of Canton (1857) Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-21
  4. James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-03