MATTHEW CALBRAITH PERRY
Matthew Calbraith Perry (April 10, 1794 - March 4, 1858) was the Commodore of
the U.S. Navy who compelled the opening of Japan to the West with the Convention
of Kanagawa in 1854.
Born in Rocky Brook, now South Kingstown, Rhode Island, he was the son of Navy
Captain Christopher R. Perry and the younger brother of Oliver Hazard Perry.
Matthew Perry got a midshipman's commission in the Navy in 1809, and was
initially assigned to Revenge, under the command of his elder brother.
Commodore Perry's early career saw him assigned to several ships, including the
President, which was in a victorious engagement over a British vessel, HMS
Little Belt, shortly before the War of 1812 was officially declared. Aboard the
USS President he served as aide to Commodore John Rodgers. During that war Perry
was transferred to USS United States, and as a result saw little fighting in
that war afterward, since the ship was trapped at New London, Connecticut. After
that war he served on various vessels in the Mediterranean and Africa (notably
aboard USS Cyane during its patrol off Liberia in 1819-1820), sent to suppress
piracy and the slave trade in the West Indies. Later during this period, while
in port in Russia, Perry was offered a commission in the Russian navy, which he
declined.
Perry died on March 4, 1858 in New York City, of liver cirrhosis due to
alcoholism. His remains were moved to the Island Cemetery in Newport, Rhode
Island on March 21, 1866, along with those of his daughter, Anna, who died in
1839.
Matthew Calbraith Perry (April 10, 1794 - March 4, 1858) was the Commodore of
the U.S. Navy who compelled the opening of Japan to the West with the Convention
of Kanagawa in 1854.
Born in Rocky Brook, now South Kingstown, Rhode Island, he was the son of Navy
Captain Christopher R. Perry and the younger brother of Oliver Hazard Perry.
Matthew Perry got a midshipman's commission in the Navy in 1809, and was
initially assigned to Revenge, under the command of his elder brother.
Commodore Perry's early career saw him assigned to several ships, including the
President, which was in a victorious engagement over a British vessel, HMS
Little Belt, shortly before the War of 1812 was officially declared. Aboard the
USS President he served as aide to Commodore John Rodgers. During that war Perry
was transferred to USS United States, and as a result saw little fighting in
that war afterward, since the ship was trapped at New London, Connecticut. After
that war he served on various vessels in the Mediterranean and Africa (notably
aboard USS Cyane during its patrol off Liberia in 1819-1820), sent to suppress
piracy and the slave trade in the West Indies. Later during this period, while
in port in Russia, Perry was offered a commission in the Russian navy, which he
declined.
Perry died on March 4, 1858 in New York City, of liver cirrhosis due to
alcoholism. His remains were moved to the Island Cemetery in Newport, Rhode
Island on March 21, 1866, along with those of his daughter, Anna, who died in
1839.