Commodore Perry
(Matthew Perry)
1794–1858Born the son of a Navy captain, Matthew Perry also joined the service at the young age of fifteen, where he served aboard the USS Revenge under his older brother, also a respected seaman. He took part in the Battle of Lake Erie, after which he was assigned to several different ships but saw little action. In 1819, he took part in a patrol of the Liberian coast, after which he was sent to the West Indies to suppress piracy and slave trade. Then, in 1821, he was given command of the USS Shark, and following the annexation of Florida to the United States, Perry sailed his ship to Key West—which he temporarily renamed “Thompson’s Island”—and planted the American flag, officially claiming the area as U.S. property.
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Matthew Perry was best remembered in history not for his early naval successes, however, but for his role in opening Japanese ports to western trade, a difficult task considering the country’s distrust toward foreigners. Before Perry’s expedition to Japan, several American ships had attempted negotiations with the Japanese, but only a few had successfully traded with the closed-off country—and then, only in Nagasaki. Similarly, representatives who met Perry directed him to proceed to Nagasaki, where he would find limited trade. Instead, Perry continued toward the town of Uraga, where his ships positioned their guns while the commodore offered the Japanese a letter from President Fillmore, dictating that any force would result in their immediate destruction. After the letter was received by delegates, Perry’s men departed, promising to return for a reply. Perry did return a year later, this time with twice as many ships, and signed the Convention of Kanagawa, written up by the delegates and responding to virtually all of the American president’s demands. Upon his final return to the United States, Perry was granted $20,000 and advanced to the position of rear admiral. He published an account of his travels in 1857, three months before his death of rheumatism while awaiting orders in New York City.
Key events during the life of Commodore Matthew Perry:
| Born. | |
| Joined the Navy and was assigned to the USS Revenge, under the command of his elder brother. | |
| Patrolled the coast of Liberia. | |
| Offered a commission in the Imperial Russian Navy but declined. | |
| Commanded the USS Shark. | |
| Claimed the Florida Keys as U.S. property. | |
| Acted as fleet captain for Commodore Rodgers. | |
| Served as second officer of the New York Navy Yard. | |
| Conducted the first U.S. naval gunnery school. | |
| Promoted to Commodore. | |
| Took command of the African Squadron. | |
| Made second-in command during the Mexican-American War. | |
| Captured Tuxpan and attacked Tabasco. | |
| Sailed to Japan in search of a Japanese trade treaty. | |
| Returned to Japan and signed the Convention of Kanagawa. | |
| Published his account of the Japanese expedition. | |
| Died. |
Other Resources
| United States seeks Trade with Japan in | The Story of Japan by R. Van Bergen |
| Opening of Japan in | Japan: Peeps at History by John Finnemore |
| Opening of Japan in | Historical Tales: Japanese and Chinese by Charles Morris |
| Land of the Rising Sun in | Growth of the British Empire by M. B. Synge |
Image Links | ||
|---|---|---|
 Delivery of the President's letter in The Story of Japan |
 Landing of the Americans at Uraga in The Story of Japan |
Perry's meeting with the regent's commission in The Story of Japan |
| Longest serving officer in American history. Served in all major wars between 1812 and the Civil War. | |
| Influential Senator from New England. Promoted protective tariffs. Favored compromise on slavery. |