On January 31, 1863, Takasugi and his comrades attacked and burned the British legation building under construction in Gotenyama, Shinagawa, in order to protest the shogunate's acting against the intentions of the Emperor.
文久2年12月12日には、幕府の異勅に抗議するため、同志とともに品川御殿山に建設中の英国公使館焼き討ち事件を行う。