author
W. D. (William Dallas) Bernard
1808–1866
Best known for chronicling the voyages of the steamship Nemesis during the First Opium War, this 19th-century writer left behind a vivid eyewitness-style record of British naval action in China and the early colonial history of Hong Kong. His work still draws readers interested in maritime history, empire, and travel writing from a turbulent era.
1 Audiobook
Narrative of the Voyages and Services of the Nemesis from 1840 to 1843 And of the Combined Naval and Military Operations in China: Comprising a Complete Account of the Colony of Hong-Kong and Remarks on the Character & Habits of the Chinese. Second Edition
by Sir W. H. (William Hutcheon) Hall, W. D. (William Dallas) Bernard
About the author
Born in 1808, William Dallas Bernard was a British writer remembered chiefly for his account of the Nemesis and the British campaign in China in the early 1840s. His name is closely linked with Narrative of the Voyages and Services of the Nemesis from 1840 to 1843, a detailed work connected with Captain W. H. Hall and the naval and military operations of the First Opium War.
Bernard's writing stands out for the way it blends action, observation, and period detail. Alongside military events, his book also describes Hong Kong and offers remarks on Chinese society as seen through a British imperial lens, making it both a historical source and a revealing document of its time.
Some biographical details about his life remain sparse in easily available sources, but records place him from 1808 to 1866. For modern readers, his lasting importance lies less in a large body of literature than in one notable work that captures a dramatic and controversial chapter of 19th-century history.