The Chinese official Lin Tse-hsü (1785-1850) was the imperial commissioner in charge of suppressing the opium trade in Canton in 1839 and the first Chinese to advocate learning about the West.

Lin Tse-hsü was born on Aug. 30, 1785, in Fukien. In 1811 he received the chin-shih (the highest academic degree) and became a member of the Hanlin Academy. As an official in the provinces, beginning in 1820, he gained a reputation for his sincerity and dedication. Between 1820 and 1850, in any crisis situation involving flood control, sea transportation, the salt administration, or military affairs, Lin was almost certain to be considered for the job.

War on the Opium Trade

In the late 1830s opium smuggling in China had reached crisis proportions. On July 10, 1838, Lin submitted a memorial in which he advocated strong measures for its suppression. His ideas, as well as their implementation while he was governor general of Hunan and...