Perry, Matthew Calbraith (1794-1858), was a famous United States naval officer, best known for opening Japan to Western trade and diplomacy. Japan had virtually isolated itself from Western countries since the early 1600’s. It had resisted, sometimes by force, attempts by Americans and Europeans to establish business and diplomatic ties. In 1854, Perry negotiated a treaty between Japan and the United States. This was Japan’s first modern treaty with a Western nation and marked the beginning of Japan’s development into a major world power.
On July 8, 1853, Perry sailed into a hostile Japan with four warships. He headed a U.S. mission to begin diplomatic and trade relations with Japan and to ensure the safety of Americans shipwrecked in Japan. Perry impressed the Japanese with a show of dignified strength. He presented Japanese officials with a letter from U.S. President Millard Fillmore to the emperor proposing peace and friendship. On March 31, 1854, Japan entered into a treaty of peace, friendship, and trade with the United States. Perry wrote a record of the expedition, Narrative of the Expedition of an American Squadron to the China Seas and Japan. It was published in 1856.
Perry was born on April 10, 1794, in Newport, Rhode Island. In 1809, he entered the Navy as a midshipman. He first served on the Revenge. This ship was commanded by Oliver Hazard Perry, Matthew’s brother. Matthew fought and was wounded in the War of 1812. He served as executive officer on the Cyane. In 1820, the Cyane carried freed slaves to Africa in order to help establish a colony. The colony later became Liberia.
Perry became a captain in 1837 and later took command of the Fulton II, one of the first naval steamships. He became deeply involved in the development of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. In 1839 and 1840, he directed the first school of naval gunnery, on board the Fulton II.
In 1843, Perry commanded the African Squadron. This squadron was set up to protect the expanding American settlements in Liberia and to help suppress the slave trade. In the Mexican War (1846-1848), Perry commanded the squadron that helped General Winfield Scott seize Veracruz, Mexico. Perry died on March 4, 1858.
