Allies, enemies or a bit of both? The complicated lives of British merchants in the China of the 1850s: The case of George Stormont Spreckley

Key Points

• This article examines the life of George Stormont Spreckley, a Liverpool merchant in Shanghai, during the Taiping Rebellion.
• Historical analysis of merchant correspondence and records from 1851 to 1853.
• Exploration of interactions among American, British, and Chinese officials.
• Contextualization of Shanghai's recreational, mercantile, military, and political life during the period.
• Spreckley navigated a complex social landscape influenced by various political powers.
• Interactions among merchants and officials often reflected a mix of cooperation and conflict.
• The article highlights the intertwined commercial and political dynamics of Shanghai amid the Taiping Rebellion.

Abstract