During the Second Opium War, Commodore Josiah Tattnall III, of the Navy of the united States, commanding the chartered Toey-Wan, shells the Taku Forts, in Tianjin, China.
NOTE: This is the second time the u.S. had attacked China, whereas China had never attacked the U.s—until 1950.
[added 9/27/2026]
Subsequent Events:
References:
Second Opium War – Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Opium_War
Battle of Taku Forts (1859) – Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Taku_Forts_(1859)