Boat Attack in the First Opium War against China - Stockillustratie

Illustration features Lieutenant William Pim, a British naval officer, defending his ship, the Nemesis, against attacking Chinese soldiers in the First Opium War in 1839. He created a diversion, allowing some of his crew to escape, and engaged in hand-to-hand combat with a sword, holding off the Chinese forces and demonstrating bravery in the face of overwhelming odds. The First Opium War was a military conflict between China and Britain from 1839 to 1842, caused by disputes over trade, opium, and diplomatic relations. It resulted in China's defeat and the signing of the Treaty of Nanking, which opened China to British trade and influence.