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Library of Naval Biography
Matthew Calbraith Perry: Antebellum Sailor and Diplomat
The complete biography of the American naval leader whose 1853 -- 4 expedition ended Japan's isolationism.
326 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2001
About the author
John H. Schroeder
12 booksJohn H. Schroeder is Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 17, 2020
From the Naval Institute Press this brand new book on Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry takes
advantage of previous undiscovered material not available till now. As such it supersedes Samuel
Eliot Morrison's previous standard work.
Matthew Calbraith Perry (1794-1858) came from Newport, Rhode Island and from a seafaring family
where it was expected this was the profession you entered. He was the fourth of 8 children and the
oldest Oliver Hazard Perry gained fame as the hero of the lake naval squadron of Lake Erie in the War
of 1812 Young Cal (he used his middle name as his form of address) did see some action there and
did stay in the navy.
For the next 25 years Perry had a succession of commands which did include action against Carribbean pirates, African slave traders, and lesser duties. He had a memorable voyage to Russia
taking our eccentric Minister designate John Randolph to the Czar's court. It was a trying experience for both and I'll let the reader judge for himself.
Perry had the distasteful duty of sitting on the Board of Inquiry. The son of the Secretary of War
John Spencer tried to start a mutiny among midshipmen on the USS Somers. The captain was an
in-law of Perry's, Alexander Slidell McKenzie. McKenzie was cleared. The case led indirectly to
the founding of the Naval Academy as a training ground or at least sped up the process.
In the Mexican War with Mexico not having a navy action was limited to convoy duty and amphibious operations against Mexican coastal ports. Perry acquitted himself well.
The climax of his life and what we know him for is the naval squadron Perry commanded in establishing relations with the hermetically sealed isolationist country of Japan. A mission commissioned by President Millard Fillmore and Perry sailed for Japan in the closing weeks of the
Fillmore administration. After almost two years the result was the Treaty of Kanegawa establishing
diplomatic relations.
The point that author John H. Schroeder makes is that Commodore Perry is one of the few naval
heroes in American history whose acclaim did not come from a great naval battle or an individual
act of heroism. A treaty is the summit of his career. And a worthy career it was.
advantage of previous undiscovered material not available till now. As such it supersedes Samuel
Eliot Morrison's previous standard work.
Matthew Calbraith Perry (1794-1858) came from Newport, Rhode Island and from a seafaring family
where it was expected this was the profession you entered. He was the fourth of 8 children and the
oldest Oliver Hazard Perry gained fame as the hero of the lake naval squadron of Lake Erie in the War
of 1812 Young Cal (he used his middle name as his form of address) did see some action there and
did stay in the navy.
For the next 25 years Perry had a succession of commands which did include action against Carribbean pirates, African slave traders, and lesser duties. He had a memorable voyage to Russia
taking our eccentric Minister designate John Randolph to the Czar's court. It was a trying experience for both and I'll let the reader judge for himself.
Perry had the distasteful duty of sitting on the Board of Inquiry. The son of the Secretary of War
John Spencer tried to start a mutiny among midshipmen on the USS Somers. The captain was an
in-law of Perry's, Alexander Slidell McKenzie. McKenzie was cleared. The case led indirectly to
the founding of the Naval Academy as a training ground or at least sped up the process.
In the Mexican War with Mexico not having a navy action was limited to convoy duty and amphibious operations against Mexican coastal ports. Perry acquitted himself well.
The climax of his life and what we know him for is the naval squadron Perry commanded in establishing relations with the hermetically sealed isolationist country of Japan. A mission commissioned by President Millard Fillmore and Perry sailed for Japan in the closing weeks of the
Fillmore administration. After almost two years the result was the Treaty of Kanegawa establishing
diplomatic relations.
The point that author John H. Schroeder makes is that Commodore Perry is one of the few naval
heroes in American history whose acclaim did not come from a great naval battle or an individual
act of heroism. A treaty is the summit of his career. And a worthy career it was.
August 17, 2020
Enjoyed the book as an introduction to this most influential naval officer. In particular, Perry's time in command of the Africa squadron and his advocacy for the new Liberian Republic interested me.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews