Queen Victoria, the legendary British monarch of the 19th century, played a pivotal role in one of history's largest drug empires, as explored by historian Sam Kelly in his book Human History On Drugs. Kelly suggests that Queen Victoria’s involvement in the opium trade was far more extensive than even notorious figures like Escobar and El Chapo, stating that the income from the British Empire's opium exports during her reign funded much of its initiatives.
Victoria was a frequent user of medicinal substances. She commonly took opium in the form of laudanum, a blend of opium and alcohol, in addition to using cocaine, cannabis, and chloroform for medical treatments. According to Kelly, “Queen Victoria took a hearty dose of laudanum every morning,” and she used cannabis to alleviate menstrual pain. Legal cocaine provided her with vitality, while chloroform was employed during her childbirth experiences.
Her personal preferences echoed the empire’s trade strategies. Upon becoming queen in 1837, Victoria inherited Britain’s reliance on Chinese tea, which led to significant silver outflows. To balance this trade deficit, the empire increasingly turned to opium grown in British-occupied India. This burgeoning trade rapidly contributed 15–20% of the annual revenue for the British Empire.
When Chinese official Lin Zexu attempted to stop the flow of opium into China, his efforts were disregarded, ultimately igniting the First Opium War in 1839. Britain emerged victorious, compelling China to cede Hong Kong, allow British trade in Chinese ports, and grant legal privileges to British nationals. For Queen Victoria, the opium trade symbolized both personal pleasure and imperial success, extending British dominance while yielding substantial financial gains.
Interestingly, although the queen was keen on expanding the opium trade globally, she opposed the export of her cocaine. Kelly remarks, “She was glad to sell them all the opium they wanted, but her cocaine? That was off-limits.”
Queen Victoria’s opium empire is a stark reminder of the intersection of personal desires and imperial pursuits, influencing worldwide trade, colonial practices, and the narrative of narcotics. Her reign is inextricably tied to her controversial role in one of history’s most lucrative drug enterprises.
Rising temperatures and habitat loss threaten plant species worldwide, impacting ecosystems and huma
Many Haiti football fans say high costs and US travel restrictions are stopping them from attending
Around 40,000 residents in Southern California were ordered to evacuate after a dangerous chemical t
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke claimed the Indian government removed the group’s websi
