Foochow Arsenal
| Company type | Shipbuilding facility |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipbuilding, Naval engineering |
| Founded | 1867 |
| Founder | Li Hongzhang, Zuo Zongtang |
| Headquarters | Mawei, Fuzhou , Qing Empire (China) |
Key people | Prosper Giquel, Paul d'Aiguebelle (French naval officers) |
Number of employees | Over 2,000 (by 1872) |
The Foochow Arsenal, alternatively referred to as the Fuzhou or Mawei Arsenal, represented a significant shipbuilding facility founded by the Qing Empire and served as a prominent initiative supported by France during the Self-Strengthening Movement.[1] Commissioned by Li Hongzhang and Zuo Zongtang, this establishment was situated in Mawei (romanized as Mamoi), a harbor located within the administrative bounds of Fuzhou fu, positioned several miles inland along the Min River.[2]
History
The inception of plans for the Fuzhou Naval College and its associated infrastructure commenced in 1866,[3] with construction activities beginning the following year. French naval officers, Prosper Giquel and Paul d'Aiguebelle, who were temporarily detached from the French Imperial Navy, were engaged to enlist approximately forty European engineers and technicians. Their mission was to supervise the establishment of a metalworking forge, a Western-style naval dockyard, eleven transport vessels, five gunboats, and educational institutions focused on navigation and marine engineering — all targeted for completion within five years.[4] Chinese officials provided the necessary materials and workforce, which expanded from 1,600 to over 2,000 employees by 1872.[5] The operational expenses over this five-year span amounted to around 3 million taels of silver, partially financed through levies on opium imports.[6] The first vessel constructed was the 150-horsepower steamship Qing Forever, launched in June 1869.[7]
During the 1884 Sino-French War, French military forces inflicted severe destruction upon the shipyard, particularly during the battle of Fuzhou.[8] Subsequently, a contemporary shipbuilding facility was erected at the same location.[9]
See also
- Chen Jitong, diplomat and shipbuilder educated at the Foochow Arsenal
- Hanyang Arsenal
- Taiyuan Arsenal
- Great Hsi-Ku Arsenal
- Jiangnan Shipyard
References
- Hong Kong Port and Maritime Board. "Chinese Ports 1996: Fuzhou; Harbour Plan". Accessed 26 September 2002.
- Pong, David. "Keeping the Foochow Navy Yard Afloat: Government Finance and China's Early Modern Defence Industry, 1866-75". In Modern Asian Studies, vol. 21, no. 1 (Cambridge University Press, 1987).
- Seltzer, Leon E., ed. The Columbia Lippincott Gazetteer of the World (New York: Columbia University Press, 1952).
- Thomson, John. China and its People in Early Photographs: An Unabridged Reprint of the Classic 1873/4 Work (reprint, New York: Dover Publications, 1982).
- Viénet, René. L'épisode français peu connu des Pescadores. Accessed 24 September 2002.
