Second Burmese War

In 1852, Commodore Lambert was despatched to Burma by Lord Dalhousie over a number of minor issues related to the Treaty Of Yandaboo between the countries. The Burmese immediately made concessions including the removal of a governor whom the British disliked. Lambert eventually provoked a naval confrontation in extremely questionable circumstances and thus started the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852, which ended in the British annexing Pegu province and renaming it Lower Burma.

The first substantial blow of the Second Burmese War was struck by the British on April 5 , 1852, when Martaban was taken. Rangoon town was occupied on the 12th, and the Shwe Dagon Pagoda on the 14th, after heavy fighting, when the Burmese army retired northwards. Bassein was seized on May 19 , and Pegu was taken on June 3 , after some sharp fighting round the Shwe-maw-daw Pagoda . During the rainy season the approval of the East India Company 's court of directors and of the British government was obtained to the annexation of the lower portion of the Irrawaddy River Valley, including Prome .

Lord Dalhousie visited Rangoon in July and August, and discussed the whole situation with the civil, military and naval authorities. In consequence General Godwin occupied Prome on October 9 encountering only slight resistance. Early in December Lord Dalhousie informed King Pagan that the province of Pegu would henceforth form part of the British dominions.

The proclamation of annexation was issued on January 20 , 1853 , and thus the Second Burmese War was brought to an end without any treaty being signed. The war resulted in a revolution in Myanmar, with King Pagin Min (ruled 1846–52) being replaced by his half brother, Mindon Min (ruled 1853-78).

SEE ALSO

History Of Myanmar

First Anglo-Burmese War ( 1823 - 1826 )

Third Anglo-Burmese War ( 1885 - 1886 )

REFERENCES

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Second Burmese War