Perry, Matthew Calbraith

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PERRY, MATTHEW CALBRAITH

Matthew C. Perry's (1794–1858) primary occupation was that of a naval officer, yet he is perhaps best remembered as a diplomat entrusted by the U.S. government to negotiate a treaty with Japan. Since the early 1600s Japan isolated itself from Western countries. In 1854 Perry successfully arranged a treaty between Japan and the United States. The treaty provided the United States with two Japanese sea ports, enabling the two countries could begin to engage in commercial trade with one another. This was Japan's first modern treaty with a Western nation. It marked the beginning of Japan's involvement in world affairs.

Born in 1794, Matthew Perry entered the Navy at age 16, serving as a midshipman. His first duty was aboard a vessel commanded by his older brother, Oliver Perry. His career in the Navy led him into combat during the War of 1812 (1812–1814); he later battled pirates in the West Indies, carried freed slaves to the newly founded African colony of Liberia, and transported American minister John Randolph to Russia. It was in Russia that Perry was offered a captain's position with the czarist government, but he firmly declined, preferring his commission with the U.S. Navy as a Master Commandant.

In 1833 Perry was appointed Second Officer of the New York Navy Yard, and began notable service on shore. Residing in New York City, he began to aggressively pursue his ideas for naval development. He created a naval apprentice system, which was adopted by Congress in 1837. In 1845 Perry and other examiners prepared the first course of instruction for the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. He went on to advocate and pioneer the use of steam-powered vessels in the Navy. He organized the first Naval Engineer Corps, and his work on the naval board was used by Congress to help enact federal legislation creating federal lighthouses. Beginning in 1843 Perry was once again actively at sea. He first commanded the African Squadron, and later led a squadron of ships in the Gulf of Mexico during the Mexican War (1846–1848).

In January 1852 Perry was selected for a highly important diplomatic mission—the negotiation of a treaty with Japan, a country which had sealed itself against dealings with Western powers since the early 1600s. His main mission in Japan was to ensure the protection of U.S. seamen and property and to open one or more Japanese ports to U.S. vessels for the procurement of supplies and commercial trade. Perry agreed to undertake the mission, provided that he could go to Japan with a large and imposing naval fleet. He hoped the sheer size of the fleet would facilitate negotiations with Japan. Perry was instructed to use any vigorous and intimidating means necessary in his negotiations with the Japanese, though with the understanding that President James Monroe (1817–1825) had no power to declare war in this situation.

In an effort to achieve his goals without resorting to military action, Perry adopted a strategy of surrounding himself and his mission with an air of mystery. His combination of boldness and mystery succeeded. He met with representatives of Japan's emperor and left the country nine days after arriving in 1853, stating he would return one year later to learn Japan's decision. He returned in seven months and, on March 31, 1854, a treaty of peace, friendship, and commerce between Japan and the United States was signed. It was a diplomatic event filled with much pageantry, and several U.S. naval vessels stood offshore.

Federal politics had changed during Perry's absence from the United States, and little notice was paid to his achievement in Japan. The "Old Bruin," as sailors called Perry, died in New York on March 4, 1858, a year after his return from Japan. He died while preparing a report of his expedition.

See also: Japan (Opening of)