Capture of the French Folly Fort

Date6 November 1856

Location

Pearl River, Guangdong, China

23°6′48″N 113°16′53″E / 23.11333°N 113.28139°E / 23.11333; 113.28139

Result British victory

Capture of French Folly Fort
Part of the Second Opium War
Start of the action, showing the steamers Barracouta and Coromandel
Date 6 November 1856 Location Pearl River, Guangdong, China 23°6′48″N 113°16′53″E / 23.11333°N 113.28139°E / 23.11333; 113.28139 Result British victory
Belligerents
United Kingdom	Qing China
Commanders and leaders
Michael Seymour	Ye Mingchen
Strength
2 steamers 14 small boats1	23 junks[1]
Casualties and losses
6 killed 15 wounded[2]	Unknown 1 fort captured
1 Comprising 2 launchers, 2 barges, 3 pinnaces, 6 cutters, and 1 gig[2]

The Capture of the French Folly Fort by British forces in China occurred on 6 November 1856 during the Second Opium War. The British dispersed 23 Chinese war junks and captured the French Folly fort in the Pearl River near the city of Canton (Guangzhou) in Guangdong province. The battle lasted nearly an hour. The British consul Harry Parkes described the Chinese as putting up "a very hot resistance" and the engagement as "exceeding creditable to the bravery not only of our men, but of the Chinese also."^[1]