Enlightenment · East Asia · Politics

1793

Macartney Embassy Received by Qianlong

September 14, 1793

Lord Macartney, after a year's journey, knelt before the Qianlong Emperor at the summer palace at Jehol - but declined to kowtow. He asked for trade relations and a resident ambassador. Qianlong's famous reply: China possessed all things and had no use for barbarian manufactures. The embassy went home empty-handed.

More from 1793 Enlightenment

In context

Also in 1793 (9 other events on record)

Execution of Louis XVI · Europe · Politics
Whitney Invents the Cotton Gin · North America · Science
Reign of Terror Begins · Europe · Politics
France Declares War on Britain and the Netherlands · Europe · War
Execution of Marie Antoinette · Europe · Politics
Second Partition of Poland · Europe · Politics

Before and after in East Asia

Before: 1787: Kansei Reforms Begin in Japan
After: February 1796: Qianlong Abdicates

Before and after in Politics

Before: 1792: Denmark Bans the Slave Trade
After: February 4, 1794: French Republic Abolishes Slavery

Era

Enlightenment (1651–1800), one of 696 events from that era on Saeculum.

Sources

Wikipedia: Macartney Embassy