Complex sentence: Born in London, his first appointment was to Hong Kong in 1844; he later became vice-consul to Whampoa, consul to Canton, and finally consul to Xiamen, where he died in 1886.
Split into simpler sentences: Born in London, his first appointment was to Hong Kong in 1844. He later became vice-consul to Whampoa, consul to Canton, and finally consul to Xiamen, where he died in 1886.