Henry Andres Burgevine
Encyclopedia
Henry Andres Burgevine (1836–1865) was an American sailor of French ancestry, mercenary
and soldier of fortune, who became famous for his military victories for Imperial China
during the Taiping Rebellion
. According to Caleb Carr in his biography of Frederick Townsend Ward, Burgevine was the child of a French
officer who had served under Napoleon Bonaparte and who had moved to Chapel Hill
, North Carolina
where became an instructor in French
at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
. His father, after having been caught by the President of the University, then died in a brawl in South Carolina
. Burgevine then lived with his grandparents and sister in Ashford, North Carolina. At age 7 he moved to Washington, D.C.
with his mother and became a Congressional and then a Senatorial page until 1853.
After travels in India, Hawaii and Australia, he then returned to Washington and then enlisted in the French Army
for the duration of the Crimean War
, where he was decorated for bravery.
In the early stages of the Taiping Rebellion he sided with the Qing
Army, serving as the deputy commander of Ever Victorious Army
, and succeeding the commander, Frederick Townsend Ward
to command the Ever Victorious Army after Ward's death. Burgevine's assignment was against Ward's will, who wished his loyal Filipino subordinate Macanaya to succeed him as the commander, but the imperial Chinese court selected Burgevine instead. However, Burgevine betrayed the Qing Dynasty by later defecting and joining Li Shixian
's army. He was later repatriated to the United States
but he returned to China after completing half of his journey. On his return Qing police arrested him once again. In 1865 he drowned along with 10 Qing police in Xiamen
's sea on the way to Shanghai
, China, although some historians believed that Burgevine was murdered on Li Hongzhang
's orders.
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
and soldier of fortune, who became famous for his military victories for Imperial China
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
during the Taiping Rebellion
Taiping Rebellion
The Taiping Rebellion was a widespread civil war in southern China from 1850 to 1864, led by heterodox Christian convert Hong Xiuquan, who, having received visions, maintained that he was the younger brother of Jesus Christ, against the ruling Manchu-led Qing Dynasty...
. According to Caleb Carr in his biography of Frederick Townsend Ward, Burgevine was the child of a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
officer who had served under Napoleon Bonaparte and who had moved to Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
where became an instructor in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. His father, after having been caught by the President of the University, then died in a brawl in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. Burgevine then lived with his grandparents and sister in Ashford, North Carolina. At age 7 he moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
with his mother and became a Congressional and then a Senatorial page until 1853.
After travels in India, Hawaii and Australia, he then returned to Washington and then enlisted in the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
for the duration of the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
, where he was decorated for bravery.
In the early stages of the Taiping Rebellion he sided with the Qing
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
Army, serving as the deputy commander of Ever Victorious Army
Ever Victorious Army
The Ever Victorious Army was the name given to an imperial army in late-19th–century China. The Ever Victorious Army fought for the Qing Dynasty against the rebels of the Nien and Taiping Rebellions....
, and succeeding the commander, Frederick Townsend Ward
Frederick Townsend Ward
Frederick Townsend Ward was an American sailor, mercenary, and soldier of fortune famous for his military victories for Imperial China during the Taiping Rebellion.-Early life:...
to command the Ever Victorious Army after Ward's death. Burgevine's assignment was against Ward's will, who wished his loyal Filipino subordinate Macanaya to succeed him as the commander, but the imperial Chinese court selected Burgevine instead. However, Burgevine betrayed the Qing Dynasty by later defecting and joining Li Shixian
Li Shixian
Li Shixian was a pre-eminent military leader of the late Taiping Rebellion. He was the cousin of military leader Li Xiucheng and was known for being very tall for a native of Guangxi province. During his military tenure, he was given the title of King of Shi...
's army. He was later repatriated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
but he returned to China after completing half of his journey. On his return Qing police arrested him once again. In 1865 he drowned along with 10 Qing police in Xiamen
Xiamen
Xiamen , also known as Amoy , is a major city on the southeast coast of the People's Republic of China. It is administered as a sub-provincial city of Fujian province with an area of and population of 3.53 million...
's sea on the way to Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, China, although some historians believed that Burgevine was murdered on Li Hongzhang
Li Hongzhang
Li Hongzhang or Li Hung-chang , Marquis Suyi of the First Class , GCVO, was a leading statesman of the late Qing Empire...
's orders.
Further reading
- Biography Yankee Adventurer By Holger Cahill (1930)
- Carr, Caleb Devil Soldier: The Story of Frederick Townsend Ward (1992)
- Macgowan, D. J. Memoirs of Generals Ward, Burgevine and the Ever-Conquering Legion.
- Smith, Richard J. Mercenaries and Mandarins: The Ever-Victorious Army in Nineteenth Century China. (1978)
- Spence, Jonathan D. God's Chinese Son, The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom of Hong Xiuquan (2002)
- ---. To Change China: Western Advisers in China (1969)
Sources
- Draft History of QingDraft History of QingThe Draft History of Qing is a draft of the official history of the Chinese Qing Dynasty compiled and written under Zhao Erxun by a team of more than 100 historians hired by the Republic of China's Beiyang government...
annals ch131 The AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...