Matthew C. Perry

Perry in c. 1850

Matthew Calbraith Perry (April 10, 1794 – March 4, 1858) was a Commodore of the U.S. Navy and commanded a number of ships. He served in several wars, mostly known in the Mexican-American War and the War of 1812. He played a leading role in the opening of Japan to the West with the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854. Perry was very concerned with the education of naval officers and helped develop a system that helped the United States Naval Academy. With the advent of the steam engine, he became a leading advocate of modernizing the U.S. Navy and came to be considered The Father of the Steam Navy.

Perry was born on April 10, 1794 in Newport, Rhode Island.^[1] He was the younger brother of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, who commanded U.S. naval forces in the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812. Matthew Perry was never married and had no children. Perry died on March 4, 1858 in New York City, New York from unknown causes. He was buried at Island Cemetery in Newport, Rhode Island.

Matthew C. Perry Media

Commodore Matthew C. PerryU.S. postage, 1953 issue
In 1847, Perry attacked and took San Juan Bautista (Villahermosa today) in the Second Battle of Tabasco.
A Japanese woodblock print of Perry (center) and other high-ranking American seamen
Commodore Matthew C. Perry's visit of Kanagawa, near the site of present-day Yokohama on March 8, 1854. Lithography. New York: E. Brown, Jr.
Perry's fleet for his second visit to Japan, 1854
An exact replica of the Gokoku-ji Bell which Perry brought back from Okinawa, saying it was a gift from the Ryukyu Kingdom. Stationed at the entrance of Bancroft Hall at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. The original bell was returned to Okinawa in 1987.
1854 Commodore Perry silver Japan treaty medal
Perry's flag (upper left corner) was flown from Annapolis to Tokyo for display at the surrender ceremonies which officially ended World War II.
Matthew C. Perry, 1855–56