Macartney chooses George Staunton as his right-hand man, whom he entrusts to continue the mission should Macartney himself prove unable to do so.

Staunton will bring along his son, Thomas, who serves the mission as a page.

John Barrow (later Sir John Barrow, 1st Baronet) serves as the embassy's comptroller.

Joining the mission are two doctors (Hugh Gillan and William Scott), two secretaries, three attachés, and a military escort.

Artists William Alexander and Thomas Hickey will produce drawings and paintings of the mission's events.

A group of scientists will also accompany the embassy, led by James Dinwiddie.

The mission will bring along four Chinese Catholic priests as interpreters.

Two are from the Collegium Sinicum in Naples, where George Staunton had recruited them.

They are familiar with Latin, but not English.

The other two are priests returning to China, to whom Staunton offers free passage to Macau.

The one hundred-member delegation will also include scholars and valets.