As a naturalized British citizen, Beato benefitted from Yokohama’s status as a British protectorate. Beato dined at the British legation, joined the Freemason’s Lodge, and greeted British officers on their ships when they came into the busy port. Beato was often privy to, even participated in, important events. He made a point of photographing the people and sites of these events whenever he could, as can be seen in the photographs he took of the historic site Papenberg, the Battle of Shimonoseki, and the place where Major Baldwin and Lieutenant Bird were killed.
The Murders of Major Baldwin and Lieutenant Bird