LIN TSEH-STY, lin' ts3' sou' (1785-1850). A Chinese high official who attained international notoriety as 'Commissioner Lin.' He was born in the Province of Fukien, and until he was seven teen years old assisted his father as a maker of artificial flowers. Aided by a wealthy friend.•hose daughter he married, he became a student, suc cessfully passed the different examinations lead ing to the doctorate, in 1811 reeeived the degree of Chin-shih, the highest in China, and was made censor. He rose rapidly through various grades of provincial service, and became Governor-Gen eral of Hunan and Ilu-peb in 1837. Here he sup preted the opium traffic with such vigor that, in 1538, he was sent to Canton to deal with the opium situation there. Lin's zeal outran his dis cretion, and his attitude toward the foreigners themselves, as well as his arbitrary seizure and destruction of eleven million dollars' worth of opium, and other high-handed acts, led to the so , called 'Opium War' with Great Britain, In 1839 he became Governor-General of the two Kwang provinces, but as his relations with British Government representatives became more a nd more unsatisfactory, the Emperor recalled mina to Pe king in 1841. He was at first transferred to a sub
ordinate position in Shell-kiang, but in 1843. when the full extent of his bungling at Canton was made more apparent, he was banished to Hi (Kulja), where he was engaged in reclaiming marshes and waste lands in various parts of Sungaria and Eastern Turkestan. At the end of 1345 he was recalled, became acting Gov ernor-General of Shen-kan, Governor of Shansi in 1846, Governor-General of Yun-kwci in 1847, and on the outbreak of the Taiping rebellion in liwang-si was made acting Governor of that province. Three years afterwards, while on his way to attack the rebels, he died. A patriot of ability, but lacking in statesmanship, he was opposed to the opening of the country. Feel ing the need of a better knowledge of foreigners, he collected much material for a geography of the world. This was given to another hand, also anti-foreign, and in 1844 his great Geography was published in 50 books.