Under the Canton System (Yikou tongshang, 1757-1842), hong merchants managed all trade with foreigners. Wu Bingjian, known as Houqua, befriended several U.S. traders and invested his own wealth in their enterprises. Benjamin Chew Wilcocks, a businessman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, brought home several portraits – including this version – of Houqua. A. A. Low & Brothers, a tea company, even named a clipper ship in honor of this respected hong merchant after he passed away.