In China, British and French troops capture the Taku Forts and open an advance on Beijing

The latest British and French efforts to force China to abide by the trade treaties of 1858 continued in earnest when their troops captured the Taku Forts on the Hai River estuary.  This enabled the Ango-French forces to advance on Beijing.  The fall of Beijing in October, 1860 ended the conflict called later the Second Opium War. (By John Osborne)