Gideon Nye
[1] Nye went to China in 1831, where he worked for various companies in the East Indian and Chinese trade.He died in the city on January 25, 1888 and afterwards "the flags of the consulates, custom house and foreign ships in port were at half mast two days in token of public esteem and sorrow."[4] Nye purchased a large collection of valuable paintings in England between 1845–1850, which were exhibited in New York.Attempts were made to keep his collection intact, but it was dispersed to locations such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[3] Nye published many books and pamphlets as an eye witness to the events which led up to the First Opium War, based on his acquaintance with both Chinese people and foreigners living in China.