Frederick Townsend Ward: The Life Story of the "Devil Soldier" of China's Tai-ping Rebellion
In 1908 Robert S. Rantoul (1832-1922) published a 45-page life sketch of Frederick Townsend Ward (The Historical Collections of the Essex Institute, Vol. XLIV, Jan. 1908, No.1). It is this 45-page historical sketch that has been republished here for the convenience of the interested reader.
Frederick Townsend Ward (1831 – 1862) was an American sailor and soldier of fortune known for his military service in Imperial China during the Taiping Rebellion. Aside from working as a sailor during the 1850s, Ward found employment, as a "filibuster". "Filibustering" is "raising private mercenary armies and leading them into other countries to advance either [one's own] schemes or those of wealthy sponsors". Ward worked for the infamous "King of the Filibusters", William Walker, in Mexico, where he learned how to recruit, train, and command mercenary troops.
In early 1862, Ward and his brother arrived in Shanghai, China in 1860 for the purpose of trading, perhaps as an extension of their father's New York office. Ward took up customary employment as the executive officer on the Confucius, an armed riverboat commanded by an American, employed by the "Shanghai Pirate Suppression Bureau". Ward's show of bravery and initiative on board the Confucius reflected great credit upon him, and the prominent men of Shanghai took notice. His exploits, previous military experience, ability to rise above racism and empathize with local populations, and his stated mercenary intentions, made him an attractive candidate to lead a force of foreign nationals in defense of Shanghai against encroaching Taiping forces.
In introducing his work, Rantoul writes:
"It is the purpose of this paper to trace the unique career of the Salem school-boy who left home to wrest favors from fortune, and, a stranger in a strange land, without influence, means or military education, to become, not many years later, a trusted general officer in the Imperial Army and Navy of China, destined to die in battle, at the age of thirty, a Mandarin of high rank and wealth, married to the daughter of a Mandarin of high rank and wealth, for the repose of whose soul pagan rites and posthumous honors were decreed, such as are rarely accorded to the manes of a native hero, and never before fell to the lot of one of western blood."
About the author:
Robert S. Rantoul (1832 – 1922) was an American politician from Salem, Massachusetts. After graduating from Harvard Law School he worked in the office of Charles G. Loring. In 1853, Rantoul began a law practice in Salem. In addition to law, Rantoul was an editorial writer for the Boston Transcript.
"1142009319"
Frederick Townsend Ward (1831 – 1862) was an American sailor and soldier of fortune known for his military service in Imperial China during the Taiping Rebellion. Aside from working as a sailor during the 1850s, Ward found employment, as a "filibuster". "Filibustering" is "raising private mercenary armies and leading them into other countries to advance either [one's own] schemes or those of wealthy sponsors". Ward worked for the infamous "King of the Filibusters", William Walker, in Mexico, where he learned how to recruit, train, and command mercenary troops.
In early 1862, Ward and his brother arrived in Shanghai, China in 1860 for the purpose of trading, perhaps as an extension of their father's New York office. Ward took up customary employment as the executive officer on the Confucius, an armed riverboat commanded by an American, employed by the "Shanghai Pirate Suppression Bureau". Ward's show of bravery and initiative on board the Confucius reflected great credit upon him, and the prominent men of Shanghai took notice. His exploits, previous military experience, ability to rise above racism and empathize with local populations, and his stated mercenary intentions, made him an attractive candidate to lead a force of foreign nationals in defense of Shanghai against encroaching Taiping forces.
In introducing his work, Rantoul writes:
"It is the purpose of this paper to trace the unique career of the Salem school-boy who left home to wrest favors from fortune, and, a stranger in a strange land, without influence, means or military education, to become, not many years later, a trusted general officer in the Imperial Army and Navy of China, destined to die in battle, at the age of thirty, a Mandarin of high rank and wealth, married to the daughter of a Mandarin of high rank and wealth, for the repose of whose soul pagan rites and posthumous honors were decreed, such as are rarely accorded to the manes of a native hero, and never before fell to the lot of one of western blood."
About the author:
Robert S. Rantoul (1832 – 1922) was an American politician from Salem, Massachusetts. After graduating from Harvard Law School he worked in the office of Charles G. Loring. In 1853, Rantoul began a law practice in Salem. In addition to law, Rantoul was an editorial writer for the Boston Transcript.
Frederick Townsend Ward: The Life Story of the "Devil Soldier" of China's Tai-ping Rebellion
In 1908 Robert S. Rantoul (1832-1922) published a 45-page life sketch of Frederick Townsend Ward (The Historical Collections of the Essex Institute, Vol. XLIV, Jan. 1908, No.1). It is this 45-page historical sketch that has been republished here for the convenience of the interested reader.
Frederick Townsend Ward (1831 – 1862) was an American sailor and soldier of fortune known for his military service in Imperial China during the Taiping Rebellion. Aside from working as a sailor during the 1850s, Ward found employment, as a "filibuster". "Filibustering" is "raising private mercenary armies and leading them into other countries to advance either [one's own] schemes or those of wealthy sponsors". Ward worked for the infamous "King of the Filibusters", William Walker, in Mexico, where he learned how to recruit, train, and command mercenary troops.
In early 1862, Ward and his brother arrived in Shanghai, China in 1860 for the purpose of trading, perhaps as an extension of their father's New York office. Ward took up customary employment as the executive officer on the Confucius, an armed riverboat commanded by an American, employed by the "Shanghai Pirate Suppression Bureau". Ward's show of bravery and initiative on board the Confucius reflected great credit upon him, and the prominent men of Shanghai took notice. His exploits, previous military experience, ability to rise above racism and empathize with local populations, and his stated mercenary intentions, made him an attractive candidate to lead a force of foreign nationals in defense of Shanghai against encroaching Taiping forces.
In introducing his work, Rantoul writes:
"It is the purpose of this paper to trace the unique career of the Salem school-boy who left home to wrest favors from fortune, and, a stranger in a strange land, without influence, means or military education, to become, not many years later, a trusted general officer in the Imperial Army and Navy of China, destined to die in battle, at the age of thirty, a Mandarin of high rank and wealth, married to the daughter of a Mandarin of high rank and wealth, for the repose of whose soul pagan rites and posthumous honors were decreed, such as are rarely accorded to the manes of a native hero, and never before fell to the lot of one of western blood."
About the author:
Robert S. Rantoul (1832 – 1922) was an American politician from Salem, Massachusetts. After graduating from Harvard Law School he worked in the office of Charles G. Loring. In 1853, Rantoul began a law practice in Salem. In addition to law, Rantoul was an editorial writer for the Boston Transcript.
Frederick Townsend Ward (1831 – 1862) was an American sailor and soldier of fortune known for his military service in Imperial China during the Taiping Rebellion. Aside from working as a sailor during the 1850s, Ward found employment, as a "filibuster". "Filibustering" is "raising private mercenary armies and leading them into other countries to advance either [one's own] schemes or those of wealthy sponsors". Ward worked for the infamous "King of the Filibusters", William Walker, in Mexico, where he learned how to recruit, train, and command mercenary troops.
In early 1862, Ward and his brother arrived in Shanghai, China in 1860 for the purpose of trading, perhaps as an extension of their father's New York office. Ward took up customary employment as the executive officer on the Confucius, an armed riverboat commanded by an American, employed by the "Shanghai Pirate Suppression Bureau". Ward's show of bravery and initiative on board the Confucius reflected great credit upon him, and the prominent men of Shanghai took notice. His exploits, previous military experience, ability to rise above racism and empathize with local populations, and his stated mercenary intentions, made him an attractive candidate to lead a force of foreign nationals in defense of Shanghai against encroaching Taiping forces.
In introducing his work, Rantoul writes:
"It is the purpose of this paper to trace the unique career of the Salem school-boy who left home to wrest favors from fortune, and, a stranger in a strange land, without influence, means or military education, to become, not many years later, a trusted general officer in the Imperial Army and Navy of China, destined to die in battle, at the age of thirty, a Mandarin of high rank and wealth, married to the daughter of a Mandarin of high rank and wealth, for the repose of whose soul pagan rites and posthumous honors were decreed, such as are rarely accorded to the manes of a native hero, and never before fell to the lot of one of western blood."
About the author:
Robert S. Rantoul (1832 – 1922) was an American politician from Salem, Massachusetts. After graduating from Harvard Law School he worked in the office of Charles G. Loring. In 1853, Rantoul began a law practice in Salem. In addition to law, Rantoul was an editorial writer for the Boston Transcript.
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Frederick Townsend Ward: The Life Story of the "Devil Soldier" of China's Tai-ping Rebellion
Frederick Townsend Ward: The Life Story of the "Devil Soldier" of China's Tai-ping Rebellion
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Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940185817117 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Far West Travel Adventure |
| Publication date: | 08/14/2022 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| File size: | 702 KB |
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