Second Anglo-Burmese War

The Second Anglo-Burmese War (1852–1853) was a decisive conflict fought between the British East India Company and the Kingdom of Burma (Ava), resulting in the annexation of Lower Burma (Pegu) by the British. The war was driven by commercial rivalry, diplomatic tensions, and imperial ambition. It marked a crucial stage in the British expansion in Southeast Asia, transforming Burma into a colonial dependency and laying the groundwork for full annexation in 1886.

Background and Causes

The roots of the Second Anglo-Burmese War lay in the unresolved tensions that followed the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–1826). Under the Treaty of Yandabo (1826), Burma ceded Assam, Manipur, Arakan, and Tenasserim to the British and paid a heavy indemnity. However, the treaty left relations between the two powers strained.
The Burmese monarchy, headquartered at Ava, resented the loss of territory and prestige, while the British sought to secure commercial and political influence in the region. Several key factors contributed to the outbreak of hostilities:

• Trade and Commercial Interests: The British, having annexed Tenasserim, desired greater access to the Irrawaddy River for trade with the Burmese interior. The port city of Rangoon, the principal outlet for Burmese commerce, became central to British mercantile ambitions.
• Treatment of British Merchants: In 1851, British traders in Rangoon complained of ill-treatment, extortion, and harassment by Burmese officials. The British government at Calcutta viewed these incidents as violations of the Treaty of Yandabo and demanded redress.
• Diplomatic Dispute: In response to these grievances, Commodore George Lambert was sent to Rangoon to negotiate with Burmese authorities. His high-handed conduct, including the blockade of the Rangoon River and seizure of a Burmese royal vessel, escalated tensions.
• Imperialist Expansionism: The British, driven by strategic and commercial motives, sought to extend their control over Lower Burma to secure the eastern approaches to the Bay of Bengal and to prevent French influence in the region.

Thus, the war began less as a reaction to aggression and more as an act of imperial assertion under the pretext of protecting British subjects and trade interests.

Course of the War

The Second Anglo-Burmese War began in April 1852 when Commodore Lambert’s forces attacked Burmese positions at Martaban, near the mouth of the Salween River. The British deployed a combined naval and military expedition, supported by gunboats from the Royal Navy and troops from India.
The major phases of the campaign were as follows:

• Capture of Martaban (April 1852): The British opened hostilities by capturing Martaban with minimal resistance.
• Occupation of Rangoon (April–May 1852): British forces under General Henry Godwin attacked Rangoon, capturing the city after heavy fighting. The famed Shwedagon Pagoda, a symbol of Burmese pride, was converted into a British stronghold.
• Battle of Bassein (May 1852): The British navy moved westward, seizing Bassein, a vital river port, further consolidating control over the Irrawaddy Delta.
• Capture of Pegu (June–November 1852): The strategic city of Pegu, located north of Rangoon, was captured after intense fighting. Its fall effectively secured Lower Burma for the British.
• Advance Towards Prome: British troops advanced towards Prome (Pyay), encountering scattered resistance but facing difficulties due to monsoon rains and tropical diseases.

The Burmese army, poorly equipped and lacking modern artillery, relied on guerrilla tactics and defensive fortifications. Despite their bravery, they were outmatched by the superior firepower and naval support of the British.
By the end of 1852, British forces had occupied most of Lower Burma, including Rangoon, Bassein, and Pegu. However, they did not advance to the royal capital at Ava, choosing instead to consolidate their territorial gains.

Annexation of Lower Burma

In December 1852, without formal negotiations or a treaty, the British unilaterally annexed the province of Pegu, effectively bringing Lower Burma under British control. The annexation was proclaimed by Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of India, who justified the decision on grounds of maintaining peace, protecting commerce, and punishing Burmese misconduct.
The war officially ended in 1853, although sporadic resistance continued for several years. No treaty was signed, as the Burmese king Pagan Min refused to recognise British annexation. The British, content with their new acquisitions, did not attempt to depose him at that stage.

Consequences and Impact

The Second Anglo-Burmese War had far-reaching consequences for both Burma and British India:
1. Territorial Expansion:

• The annexation of Pegu (Lower Burma) added valuable territory to the British Empire, including the prosperous Irrawaddy Delta and major ports like Rangoon and Bassein.
• Rangoon emerged as the chief port and administrative centre of British Burma, rapidly developing into a leading commercial hub of Southeast Asia.

2. Political Reorganisation:

• The annexed regions were placed under British administration, initially governed by military officers and later by civil commissioners.
• The Chief Commissioner of Pegu was made directly subordinate to the Governor-General of India.

3. Economic Transformation:

• The British introduced new systems of land revenue, trade regulation, and infrastructure development.
• Rangoon became a major export centre for rice, teak, and oil, linking Burma’s economy to global markets.
• The expansion of British trade interests also brought an influx of Indian labourers and merchants, reshaping the demographic structure of Lower Burma.

4. Decline of the Burmese Monarchy:

• The loss of Lower Burma dealt a severe blow to the prestige and resources of the Burmese monarchy.
• Internal instability followed, culminating in the deposition of King Pagan Min by his half-brother Mindon Min in 1853.
• Mindon Min sought to modernise the kingdom and maintain peaceful relations with the British, but tensions continued, eventually leading to the Third Anglo-Burmese War (1885) and complete annexation.

5. Strategic and Imperial Implications:

• The acquisition of Lower Burma strengthened British control over the eastern frontier of India and secured maritime routes to China and the Malay Peninsula.
• It also served as a buffer against French ambitions in Indochina, reinforcing British dominance in Southeast Asia.

Role of Lord Dalhousie

The Second Anglo-Burmese War is closely associated with the imperial policy of Lord Dalhousie (1848–1856), whose tenure as Governor-General was marked by aggressive expansionism. Dalhousie justified the annexation of Pegu as a measure of “enlightened imperialism,” claiming it would bring order and progress to a disorganised region.
However, his actions were criticised by some contemporaries as provocative and unnecessary, suggesting that the war was engineered to advance commercial and territorial interests rather than to address genuine grievances.

Historical Assessment

Historians view the Second Anglo-Burmese War as a classic example of British imperial expansion under pretexts of trade protection and diplomacy. It differed from the First Anglo-Burmese War in being shorter, more focused, and more overtly motivated by economic and strategic considerations.
The conflict also marked the beginning of Burma’s gradual integration into the British Empire. While the British claimed to bring peace and prosperity, the war and its aftermath disrupted traditional Burmese society, undermined indigenous governance, and initiated a period of colonial domination that lasted until 1948.