Cite
MLA
“Second Anglo-Burmese War.” Hindu History, 2026, https://www.hinduhistory.in/battles/second-anglo-burmese-war-1852/. Accessed .
APA
Hindu History. (2026). Second Anglo-Burmese War. Retrieved , from https://www.hinduhistory.in/battles/second-anglo-burmese-war-1852/
The Company took Rangoon and the delta and annexed the province of Pegu by proclamation in December 1852.
01From a fine to a war
In 1851 the governor of Rangoon fined two British ship masters on charges brought by their crews. Dalhousie sent Commodore Lambert with warships to demand redress. Lambert seized a Burmese royal ship, the shore batteries fired, and talks collapsed. Dalhousie then sent an ultimatum to Ava with a large sum in compensation demanded. When it ran out, General Godwin’s force from Bengal and Madras landed and stormed the stockades around the Shwedagon at Rangoon in April 1852.
02Pegu annexed
Martaban had fallen days before Rangoon, and Bassein followed in May. Prome was taken in October and Pegu town in November. On 20 December 1852 Dalhousie proclaimed the province of Pegu British territory. At Ava, Pagan Min was overthrown early in 1853 by his half-brother Mindon, who wanted peace but would never sign away Pegu. The fighting died out without a treaty, and Lower Burma was ruled from Calcutta from then on.
The war cut Burma off from the sea and left the kingdom of Ava to be taken in 1885.