Matthew Perry

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Matthew Perry

• By Jon Ortiz
• And
• Michael Liedecke

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Biography

• Matthew Perry was born on April 10, 1794, in
  South Kingstown, Rhode Island. He began his naval
  career as midshipman at the age of 15, advancing
  to lieutenant in 1813 and to commander in 1826.
  Perry supervised the construction of the first
  naval steamship, the Fulton, and upon its
  completion in 1837, he took command with the rank
  of captain.

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What He Did

• On July 8, 1853, Perry led a squadron of four
  ships into Tokyo Bay and presented
  representatives of the emperor with the text of a
  proposed treaty for commerce and friendship. To
  give the reluctant Japanese time to consider the
  offer, he then sailed for China. With an even
  more powerful fleet, he returned to Tokyo in
  February 1854 and came ashore to meet with
  representatives of the ruling shogun. He was
  accompanied by 600 men and a naval band. The
  Japanese signed the Treaty of Kanagawa on March
  31, 1854, providing that humane treatment be
  extended to sailors shipwrecked in Japanese
  territory, that U.S. ships be permitted to buy
  coal in Japan, and that the ports of Shimoda and
  Hakodate be opened to U.S. commerce.

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Why Was It Important

• It opened up U.S. trading with Japan.
• We are allowed us to buy and sell goods from
  Japan.

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Work Reference

• Facts On File
• Perry, Matthew C.
• http//www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID
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