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Matthew Calbraith Perry
b.
Newport or South Kingstown, RI,
April 10, 1794.
d. New York City,
NY, March 4, 1858.
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Birthplace in question, boyhood home still stands at #31 Walnut Street.
Confusion concerning final burial location. Some place body in the
Slidell family vault (married Jane Slidell) in churchyard of St. Mark’s-in-the-Bowerie
(NYC), others in the Belmont Circle at Island Cemetery. On south
wall of Trinity Church is a memorial to Matthew. Baptized there in
1795.
His daughter Caroline married August Belmont, the senior. A statue
to Perry’s memory was erected in 1868 in Touro Park by Mr. and Mrs. Belmont.
In commemoration of Perry’s accomplishment with relations between Japan
and United States, the Black Ships Festival is held every summer in Newport.
Younger brother of Oliver Hazard Perry, he began naval career in his mid-teens,
before it was over, he had been on an incredible number of missions spanning
the globe for our government.
One of the most important missions of his career was the "opening up" of
Japan. Japan, at the time, was under self-imposed isolation from
the rest of the world. Our Navy, citing a need in that part of the
world for a safe haven for whaling vessels and the need for coal for use
in steamships, made a valid case to "open up" Japan.
In March of 1852, received command for Japanese expedition. After
preparing at Okinawa, the Perry squadron arrived at what is now known as
Tokyo Bay on July 8, 1853. The Japanese were quite taken back as
this was the first time they had ever seen these so called "Black Ships."
The American ships had no sails and were dispersing thick black smoke into
the air.
Perry promised sufficient time for the Japanese to consider the proposal
and would return the next spring for their answer. In November, Perry
learned the Russians and French were planning their own treaties with Japan.
Feeling this might jeopardize the Americans’ chances he planned to sail
for Japan early.
In February of 1854, Perry returned to Tokyo Bay and anchored of Yokohama.
On March 8, the commissioners from the Emperor arrived to meet with Perry.
After 23 days of intense negotiations, a treaty was signed. It contained
provisions for the harbors of Shimoda and Hakodate to be opened for supplies
and coal; shipwrecked sailors to be assisted and returned; and the free
movement of American citizens within treaty ports.
The treaty of Kanagawa was ratified by the Senate on July 15, and signed
by President Franklin Pierce on August 7, 1854. This was the first
treaty of peace, amity, and commerce between the United States and Japan.
During his career, Perry successfully advocated for steam warships in the
Navy, developed a naval apprentice system, organized the first Naval Engineer
Corps , and established the first course of instruction at the Naval Academy.
Bibliography
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