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Jared Alessi, MMC
to remember
Perry, Matthew (Commodore), CAPT.
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Contact Info
Last Address Newport
Date of Passing Mar 04, 1858
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Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Matthew Calbraith Perry was born in Newport, Rhode Island, on 10 April 1794, son of Captain Christopher R. Perry, a distinguished officer of the Revolutionary War, and Sarah Wallace (Alexander) Perry. In 1814 he was married to Jan Sliddell, and they had ten children. He died in New York City, on 4 March 1858, and was interred in the vaults of the Church of St. Mark's-in-the-Bouwerie in New York. On 21 March 1866, the bodies of Commodore Perry and his child, Anna who died in 1839, were reinterred in Newport, Rhode Island.
Appointed Midshipman in 1809, he first saw service under his brother, Oliver Hazard Perry, in the Revenge. During the War of 1812, he served in squadrons commanded by Commodores Rodgers and Decatur and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1813. He made several cruises to the coast of Africa and to the Mediterranean, and commanded the schooner Shark in the West Indies. He was promoted to master commandant in 1826 and named a captain eleven years later. From 1838 to 1840 he commanded the steam frigate Fulton in connection with experiments in steam navigation.
In 1844 he went to the coast of Africa as Commodore of the squadron assigned to those waters. During the Mexican War, he joined the Home Squadron in the Gulf of Mexico in 1846, and conducted several expeditions against the towns of Tobasco and Laguna. In March 1847 he succeeded Commodore Connor in command of the squadron, which was then engaged in besieging Vera Cruz. After the war he was ordered home on special duty, 1849-1852, after which he sailed for the East Indies on a cruise which became memorable in the annals of the U.S. Navy, and during which he carried the American flag into Japanese waters, and concluded a treaty which opened their ports to American enterprise.
His success in establishing good relations with Japan can be attributed to his combining diplomacy with dignity and a bold display of impressive force. On 8 July 1853, he unexpectedly appeared in Tokyo Bay with two steam frigates and two sloops-of-war. He declined to deal with minor officials, flatly refused to obey directions to go to Nagasaki (where the Dutch had a trading post), dispersed the swarms of guard-boats surrounding the squadron by threatening the use of force, and deliberately disregarded a prohibition against taking soundings. He insisted upon presenting to a high official on shore, a letter from President Fillmore addressed to the Japanese Emperor. This was reluctantly agreed to by uneasy Japanese. On 14 July the steam frigates Susquehanna and Mississippi moved close to the shore and landed 400 seamen and marines. The Commodore followed with special attendants, proceeded with much pomp to the council house and presented his documents very formally to the Princes Iduzu and Iwami. They gave a receipt.
Three days later Perry sailed away leaving word that he would return for an answer. After seven months he entered the bay again, and with a much more powerful squadron. His reception was most cordial, gifts and entertainments were exchanged, and the treaty was negotiated, opening two ports to American commerce.
Commodore Perry returned to Washington and was on special duty in the Navy Department for several years, connected with his expedition to Japan.
Frigate:
One of six frigates authorized by Congress, 27 March 1794
Designed by Joshua Humphreys and CAPT. Thomas Truxtun, built at Philadelphia Navy Yard
Launched, 10 May 1797
Commissioned, USF United States, 11 July 1797, at Philadelphia, CAPT. John Barry in command
Fitted out at Philadelphia in the spring of 1798 and ordered to sea, 3 July 1798
Proceeded to Boston and then to the Caribbean, at Barbados
Captured French privateer Sans Pareil, 22 August 1798
Took her second prize, French privateer Jalouse, 4 September 1798
During her second voyage to the West Indies USS United States
Sunk French privateer schooner L'Amour de la Patrie, 18 December 1798
Captured French privateer schooner La Tartueffe and her prize American sloop Vermont, 26 March 1799
USS United States sailed for France, 3 November 1799 with commissioners appointed by the President to negotiate a settlement
Returned to New York, April 1800 and laid up for repairs
Decommissioned, 6 June 1801, at Washington Navy Yard
Recommissioned and refitted at Norfolk in 1810
During the War of 1812, USS United States encountered and defeated HMS Macedonian, 25 October 1812, south of the Azores
Following the Barbary Pirate Wars USS United States was assigned to the Mediterranean Squadron from 1812 to 1819
Decommissioned, 9 June 1819, at Hampton Roads
Recommissioned and assigned to the Pacific Squadron from 1824 to 1827
After repairs at Philadelphia from 1827 to 1830 USS United States was placed in ordinary at New York Navy Yard in 1830
Modernized in 1832 for service in the Mediterranean Squadron from 1833 to 1838
Redeployed to the Home Squadron from 1839 to 1840
Repaired at Norfolk in 1841, assigned as flagship of the Pacific Squadron in January 1842
Decommissioned, at Boston, 14 October 1844
Recommissioned, 18 May 1846, assigned to the African Squadron
Joined the Mediterranean Squadron in 1847
Decommissioned, at Norfolk, 24 February 1849, placed in ordinary
Set on fire to prevent Confederate forces from capturing the hulk, at Norfolk Navy Yard, 20 April 1861
Pumped out and recommissioned at the Confederate frigate CSS United States for service as a receiving ship
Sunk in the Elizabeth River at Portsmouth, VA. to obstruct the passage of Union vessels in May 1862
Raised by Union forces and towed to Norfolk Navy Yard in May 1862
Final Disposition, ordered broken up by the Bureau of Construction and Repair, 18 December 1865
