People · Shanghai daotai
Wu Xu
吴煦Wú Xù · 1809–1873
Shanghai daotai from about 1858 who raised the Foreign Arms Corps against the Taiping and agreed the first French concession extension in 1861.
Wu Xu (吴煦, Wú Xù) was the Shanghai daotai during the Taiping threat, associated with the Foreign Arms Corps and the French concession’s first enlargement.
A native of Renhe in Zhejiang, he rose through purchased office to county magistrate and acting prefect. With Yang Fang, comprador of Jardine Matheson, he cooperated with British, French and American forces against the Small Swords. The gazetteer says he became daotai in “1958”, plainly meaning 1858. Around the Taiping attack on Shanghai the next year, he and Yang Fang recruited the American sailor Frederick Townsend Ward to command the Foreign Arms Corps (洋枪队).
In 1861, with the consent of Prince Gong, he placed the moat area outside the Little East Gate in the French concession, the first time it was enlarged. In January 1862, when the Taiping advanced again, he called in Li Hongzhang’s Huai army and supplied it. He was soon accused of pocketing public funds and dismissed; Li Hongzhang’s reply to the charge cleared him, and Wu retired citing illness. He died in 1873.
Timeline
Connections
- B. Edan爱棠Agreed the 1860 French Concession extension with daotai Wu Xu
- Jardine, Matheson & Co.怡和洋行Joined a comprador of Jardine Matheson in action against the Small Swords
- Xue Huan薛焕Directed Wu Xu to organise the foreign-rifle corps, 1860