Ep. 345 | Howqua
Once dubbed "the richest man in the world" back in his day, the first half of the 19th century, Wu Bingjian 伍秉鉴 was a leading figure in the pre-Opium War world of foreign trade. He's best known as someone who epitomized the "bad old days" of The Canton System. He's a well-known name from this period in Chinese history. but like many prominent names, little is known about his life story. He was quite a fascinating character in his day.
After the exploits of Robert Fortune, many other plant hunters such as Henry Fletcher Hance, Père David, Augustine Henry, Ernest Wilson, and George Forrest, among others followed in his footsteps to China.