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Events on Wednesday 8 October 1856 1
1856Second Opium War begins with the Arrow IncidentChinese seizure of a ship sparks renewed conflict with BritainOn 8 October 1856, Chinese officials in Canton boarded the Arrow, a Chinese-owned but British-registered ship, arrested its crew on suspicion of piracy, and lowered its flag. Britain used the incident as a pretext to bombard Canton later that month, reigniting hostilities that became the Second Opium War. France later joined Britain against the Qing government.