a seaport-town of British India, in the province of Pegu, on the left bank of the Rangoon arm of the Irrawaddy, about 20 miles from its mouth, and 62 S. of Pegu. Previous to the great fire which consumed the whole of the town in 1850, it occupied an oblong area along the river's bank, about one mile in length and three-quarters in breadth; but after that catastrophe it was rebuilt on a different site, about a mile from the river, in the form of a square. It was built of bamboo for the most part, and defended by a pagoda on the north side, which formed a sort of citadel. In 1854 and 1855 fresh conflagrations took place; and from the nature of the buildings they proved very destructive. In the re-building of the town, since its last destruction, arrangements have been made by the British authorities for securing not only a proper protection against the recurrence of such devastations by fire, but for providing, by drainage and other measures, for the health and cleanliness of the town. The situation of Rangoon is very favourable to trade; and ship-building is actively carried on. Timber is floated down from the teak forests in the interior, and many vessels of large size have been built here. The town was first built in 1753, by Alompra, the founder of the Burmese monarchy, and from him it derived its name, signifying the "City of Victory." It was taken by the British in the first Burmese war in 1824; but subsequently restored to the native power. In the second war the capture of the pagoda or citadel by General Godwin in 1832 led to the fall of the town; and it passed, along with the province of Pegu, into the hands of the British. Pop., about 20,000.