Macartney (George) Papers, 1792-approximately 1833

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Summary

Title:
George Macartney papers
Dates:
1792-approximately 1833
Abstract:
Contains documents relating to George Macartney's attempts to establish a British embassy in China during the late 1790s.
Extent:
2.33 Linear Feet (2 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English and French.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. George Macartney papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains material relating to George Macartney's failed effort to establish a British embassy in Peking (modern day Beijing), China from 1792 to 1794. This includes correspondence with the Governor-General of the Philippines about a secret mission to Manila and correspondence with the East India Company and members of the embassy about intelligence, tactics, and conditions in China. One of the letters from the East India Company reports that Cai Shiwen, also known as Munqua and head of the Cohong, is under orders to follow Macartney's embassy and to act as their interpreter at court. The collection also contains a variety of materials documenting the preparations for the embassy, predicted and actual expenses, salaries, personnel, and gifts of the embassy before, during, and after the expedition.

Box 2 contains an indenture between the East India Company and John Barrow, comptroller of the embassy, which documents his expected pay and limits his interactions with the Chinese. Barrow cannot lend or borrow money or have any transactions with the Chinese other than purchasing or procuring the necessary items for his maintenance and travel. It also contains a January 6, 1793, letter from Eyles Irwin, part of the East India Company's Secret and Superintending Committee at Canton, to Macartney describing conditions in China, tactics for the embassy, and news from India. Both items are restricted due to the fragility of the materials.

Biographical / historical:

George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney, was born in 1737 to George and Elizabeth Macartney. From 1750 to 1754 he studied at Trinity College, Dublin and eventually received a Master of Arts degree in 1759. Macartney began his diplomatic and governmental career in 1764 through an appointment as envoy to Russia and he was also knighted that same year.

Macartney would later serve as Chief Secretary in Ireland from 1769 to 1776, Governor of Granada from 1776-1779, and Governor of Madras from 1781 to 1785 before becoming the first British envoy to China in 1793. As an envoy to China, he tried to secure trade concessions with China and establish an embassy in Peking (modern day Beijing). Macartney was unable to complete his diplomatic mandate and left China in March 1794. Also in March 1794, Macartney was raised to an earldom in the Irish peerage. Macartney's last diplomatic post was as Governor of the Cape Colony from 1796 to 1798.

Macartney married Lady Jane Stuart, daughter of the 3rd Earl of Bute, in 1768 and they had no children. Macartney died in 1806.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Bernard Quaritch Ltd., September 2025.
Processing information:

Processed by Kahlee Leingang at the time of accessioning in April 2025.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Kahlee Leingang
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-05-28 11:29:10 -0700 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

RESTRICTED. Box 2: Due to the fragile nature of these items, this box is closed to researchers until conservation work is completed.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. George Macartney papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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