Howqua

Howqua
Portrait by George Chinnery, 1830
Born
Wu Bingjian

1769
Died4 September 1843 (age 75)
Guangzhou, China
Known forFounding of the E-wo hong
ChildrenAt least five, and adopted John Murray Forbes.
Howqua
Portrait by an unidentified artist
Chinese伍秉鑑
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinWǔ Bǐngjiàn
Wade–GilesWu Ping-chien
Yale RomanizationWǔ Bǐngjyàn
IPA[ù pìŋtɕjɛ̂n]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationNgh Bíng Gaam
JyutpingNg5 Bing2 Gaam3
IPA[ŋ̬̍ pɪ̌ŋ kāːm]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJNgó͘ Péng-kàm
Business name
Chinese浩官
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinHào Guān
Wade–GilesHao Kuan
Yale RomanizationHàu Gwān
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationHouh Gūn
JyutpingHou6 Gun1
IPA[hòu kúːn]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJHō-koaⁿ

Wu Bingjian (Chinese: 伍秉鑑; 1769 – 4 September 1843), trading as "Houqua" and better known in the West as "Howqua" or "Howqua II", was a hong merchant in the Thirteen Factories, head of the E-wo hong and leader of the Canton Cohong. He was once the richest man in the world.