[Encore] Searching for Black Gold in Taiwan – S6
![[Encore] Searching for Black Gold in Taiwan – S6](https://metaimg.podpage.com/glcutZosfGXVQxDiXq9SzqPgZ1sEKr0VK5vWee25-cM/eyJoIjo2MzAsIm0iOiJibHVyIiwidSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vZDN0M296ZnRtZG1oM2kuY2xvdWRmcm9udC5uZXQvc3RhZ2luZy9wb2RjYXN0X3VwbG9hZGVkX2VwaXNvZGUvMTQzMjExMjAvMTQzMjExMjAtMTc4NTIyMDk2ODMyNC1mNjgzZmRhNTZiODZlLmpwZyIsInUyIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9tZWRpYS5wb2RwYWdlLmNvbS9zaG93cGFnZS91cGxvYWRzL2ltYWdlcy85MmMxYzQwNGYyMWY0OGQ4YjYwMTEzYzI3YzczOGZkNi5qcGciLCJ3IjoxMjAwfQ.webp "[Encore] Searching for Black Gold in Taiwan – S6")
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Key Takeaways
- Commodore Matthew C. Perry's famous expeditions to Japan in the 1850s also included an American ship visiting Keelung in northeastern Taiwan to investigate its harbor and coal resources.
- The North Pacific Exploring and Surveying Expedition of 1853 to 1856 involved two distinct visits to Taiwan by American vessels.
- During the 19th century, Western powers like the United States actively looked at establishing footholds on Formosa's wild East Coast.
- The mysterious eastern region of Taiwan lay outside of Chinese control and was viewed by outsiders for potential utility, such as a coaling station or a penal colony.
- This episode brings to life the historical maritime accounts of Lt. Alexander Habersham aboard the USS John Hancock.
We’ve got a new “snack” for you on Sunday, but today we’re revisiting an episode from 2022. Commodore Matthew C. Perry’s two expeditions of 1852–1854 pried open Japan. Less well known is that one of the American ships visited Keelung in northeastern Taiwan to investigate the harbor and its coal resources.
And completely forgotten is another American project, the North Pacific Exploring and Surveying Expedition of 1853 to 1856, which saw two visits to Taiwan. At that time, the United States was one of several Western powers that had an eye on establishing a foothold on Formosa’s wild East Coast.
The mysterious region lay outside of Chinese control and promised all sorts of possible utility, whether as a coaling station or a penal colony. In today’s podcast, we’re aboard the John Hancock in the company of Lt. Alexander Habersham, who wrote an account of the expedition.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What connection did Commodore Matthew C. Perry have to Taiwan coal history?
As part of his expeditions to open Japan in the 1852-1854 period, an American ship was sent to Keelung in northeastern Taiwan specifically to investigate the harbor and its coal resources.
What was the North Pacific Exploring and Surveying Expedition?
It was an American project spanning from 1853 to 1856 that included two separate visits to Taiwan by vessels like the John Hancock, exploring the island's potential utility for Western powers.
Why were Western powers interested in Formosa's East Coast in the 19th century?
The rugged eastern region was outside of Chinese control, making it a tempting location for Western nations looking to establish strategic footholds for coaling stations or penal colonies.
Who was Lt. Alexander Habersham?
Lt. Alexander Habersham was an officer aboard the John Hancock during the North Pacific Exploring and Surveying Expedition who wrote a detailed account of the journey to Taiwan.
