Authors: James Clavell Tai-Pan, a British merchant adventurer who lived in Hong Kong from 1847 to 1860. Background: In 1847, the British government sent an expedition to China under the leadership of Sir Thomas Foulkes to seize control of the Chinese opium trade. The expedition was successful, and its leader, Sir Thomas Foulkes, acquired the title "Taipan." James Clavell was born on August 20, 1918 in London, England. He was an author known for his historical novels set in Asia. His best-known work is probably Tai-pan, which was made into a movie in 1983. Clavell died on January 17, 2001 in Putney, London at the age of 79.