May 3, 1979

Margaret Thatcher. 1983.Rob Bogaerts for Anefo. Nationaal Archief, CC0. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Margaret_Thatcher_(1983)_(cropped).jpg

Margaret Thatcher is remembered as one of Britain’s most iconic leaders and capitalism’s staunchest champions. She was a Conservative Party leader who held various offices throughout the 60s and 70s. She believed firmly in free trade and limited government, and proved to be a persuasive advocate for these policies, particularly as inflation rose to high levels in the late 70s. 

On May 3, 1979, she became Britain's first female Prime Minister and held the office until 1990, longer than any other British PM of the 20th century. Thatcher was most famous for her economic policies, and vocal opposition to communism. While never lacking for critics and enemies, she also retained strong supporters, even beyond hardline conservatives. However, by the end of the 80s, Labour politicians in Britain were gaining steam, largely by criticizing the effects of Thatcher’s economic policies on middle and lower-class communities. This, coupled with her opposition to bringing Britain into the European monetary union, sparked opposition within her party, leading to her resignation in 1990. 

Sources:

What is Thatcherism- BBC

The Margaret Thatcher I Knew- Guardian

Margaret Thatcher, First Female Prime Minister 1979- AP Archive

November 3, 1839

W. & A. K. Johnston Limited. “Map of the Macao - Bocca Tigris - Canton approach, Pearl River delta. Cropped and modified.” 1910. Public Domain. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Macao_-_Bocca_Tigris_-_Canton_approach.jpg

In 1839, after decades of debate over how to respond to opium use and trade in their country, Chinese officials and Emperor Qing decided to step up enforcement of the ban on opium production and importation that had been passed in 1800. Imperial Commissioner Lin Zexu oversaw the destruction of over 20,000 chests of opium, mostly confiscated from British merchants like the East India Company.

Calls for war from merchants in Britain and its colonies increased as profits declined. On November 3, 1839 several British merchant ships feuded over the proper trade protocols, began firing on each other, and drew in Chinese warships seeking to reestablish order in their waters. The resulting battle (The First Battle of Chuenpi/Chuanbi) claimed the lives of 15 Chinese sailors and kicked off the first Opium War which would result in China ceding the island of Hong Kong to Britain.

My best guess of where Chuenpi Island is as of 2023. Not sure.

A few hours of trying to find a straight answer online about Chuenpi/Chuanbi island was not successful. You may have better luck. The screenshot of the google-map above is just my best attempt.

I could be dead wrong on this, so please do not take it as a fact.

Sources:

The First Battle of Chuenpi/Chuanbi- Wikipedia

The Opium Wars in China- An essay by Jack Patrick Hayes, PHD at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Vancouver, BC. For the Asian Pacific Foundation of Canada. (This overview provides strong context and visuals for the conflict, but the Battle of Chuenpi is not examined closely.)

The First Opium War: The Anglo-Chinese War of 1839-1842 An essay by Peter C. Purdue PHD at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), in collaboration with MIT Visualizing Cultures project. (The first tab of this site “Opium Trade” provides strong context for the conflict. The Battle of Chuenpi is not examined in much detail.)