Matthew C. Perry

Matthew C. Perry
Perry c. 1856–1858
Commander of the East India Squadron
In office
November 20, 1852 – September 6, 1854
Preceded byJohn H. Aulick
Succeeded byJoel Abbot
Personal details
Born
Matthew Calbraith Perry

(1794-04-10)April 10, 1794[1]
Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.
DiedMarch 4, 1858(1858-03-04) (aged 63)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Spouse
(m. 1814)
Children10
Parents
Signature
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service1809–1858
RankCommodore
Commands
Battles/wars

Matthew Calbraith Perry (April 10, 1794 – March 4, 1858) was a United States Navy officer who commanded ships in several wars, including the War of 1812 and the Mexican–American War. He played a leading role in the Perry Expedition that ended Japan's isolationism and the Convention of Kanagawa between Japan and the United States in 1854.

Perry was interested in the education of naval officers and assisted in the development of an apprentice system that helped establish the curriculum at 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" in the United States.

  1. ^ Smolski, Chester (December 1971). "Newport: Commodore Matthew Perry Public Sculpture". Rhode Island College. Rhode Island College. Retrieved December 19, 2022.