# Matthew C. Perry

> American naval officer (1794–1858)

**Wikidata**: [Q61855](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q61855)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_C._Perry)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/matthew-c-perry

## Summary
Matthew C. Perry was an American naval officer (1794-1858) who served during the War of 1812, Second Barbary War, and Mexican-American War. He is best known for commanding the expedition to Japan in 1853-1854 that successfully negotiated the Treaty of Kanagawa, ending Japan's two-century isolation and opening its ports to American trade.

## Biography
- Born: April 10, 1794 (or January 1, 1794)
- Nationality: United States
- Education: Not specified in the source material
- Known for: Leading the expedition to Japan that opened Japanese ports to American trade
- Employer(s): United States Navy (as a naval officer)
- Field(s): Naval service, diplomacy, possibly botany and malacology

## Contributions
Matthew C. Perry commanded naval forces during the War of 1812, the Second Barbary War, and the Mexican-American War. His most significant contribution was leading the expedition to Japan in 1853-1854, which successfully negotiated the Treaty of Kanagawa, opening Japanese ports to American trade and ending Japan's 200-year policy of national seclusion. This diplomatic mission demonstrated his skills as both a naval commander and diplomat, establishing the United States as a significant Pacific power.

## FAQs
Q: What were Matthew C. Perry's most significant naval operations?
A: Matthew C. Perry participated in several major naval conflicts including the War of 1812, the Second Barbary War, and the Mexican-American War, serving as a naval officer during these periods.

Q: How did Matthew C. Perry impact Japan?
A: Perry's expedition to Japan in 1853-1854 resulted in the Treaty of Kanagawa, which ended Japan's two-century isolationist policy and opened its ports to American trade, fundamentally changing Japan's relationship with the outside world.

Q: What were Matthew C. Perry's roles beyond naval service?
A: Beyond his naval service, Perry also served as a diplomat, leading the successful mission to Japan. Additionally, related entities suggest he may have had interests in botany and malacology (study of mollusks).

## Why They Matter
Matthew C. Perry's mission to Japan fundamentally reshaped Japanese society and international relations in Asia. By ending Japan's isolation, he initiated rapid modernization and Westernization of Japan, which transformed it from a feudal society into an imperial power within decades. His actions established the United States as a significant Pacific power and influenced American foreign policy in the region. Perry's ability to combine naval strength with diplomatic skill set a precedent for American "gunboat diplomacy" approaches in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

## Notable For
- Leading the American expedition that opened Japan to foreign trade in 1853-1854
- Negotiating the Treaty of Kanagawa, ending Japan's 200-year seclusion policy
- Serving as a naval officer during the War of 1812, Second Barbary War, and Mexican-American War
- Possibly having expertise in botany and malacology (based on related entities)
- Commodore rank in the U.S. Navy

## Body
### Early Life and Background
Matthew C. Perry was born on April 10, 1794 (or January 1, 1794 according to different sources) in the United States. Throughout his life, he maintained American citizenship with his nationality being the United States. He held several aliases including Matthew Calbraith Perry, M.C. Perry, Commodore Matthew Perry, Matthew Perry, and Commodore Perry.

### Naval Service
Perry served as a naval officer in the United States Navy throughout his career, achieving the rank of Commodore. His naval service encompassed several major conflicts:

- War of 1812: Perry served during this conflict between the United States and the British Empire from 1812 to 1815.
- Second Barbary War: He participated in the 1815 war between Algiers and the United States.
- Mexican-American War: Perry served during the military conflict between the United States of America and Mexico from 1846 to 1848.

### Diplomatic Mission to Japan
Matthew C. Perry's most significant achievement was leading the expedition to Japan in 1853-1854. This diplomatic mission successfully negotiated the Treaty of Kanagawa, which opened Japanese ports to American trade and ended Japan's 200-year policy of national seclusion. Perry combined naval strength with diplomatic skill to achieve this outcome, demonstrating what became known as "gunboat diplomacy." The "black ships" of his expedition remain a powerful symbol in Japanese history.

### Scientific Interests
While primarily known as a naval officer and diplomat, related entities suggest that Perry may have had interests in botany (the study of plants) and malacology (the study of mollusks). These connections indicate he might have been a botanical collector or had scientific interests beyond his military and diplomatic roles.

### Death and Legacy
Matthew C. Perry died on March 4, 1858 (or January 1, 1858 according to different sources). His legacy is primarily defined by his diplomatic mission to Japan, which fundamentally changed Japan's relationship with the outside world and initiated its rapid modernization. The expedition established the United States as a significant Pacific power and influenced American foreign policy in the region for decades to come.

### Identifiers and Recognition
Perry is associated with numerous identifiers including:
- VIAF ID: 0000000114420477
- WorldCat ID: 37133702
- GND ID: 118994573
- NDL ID: n50009036
- ULAN ID: 144281121
- BNF ID: 074720724
- Library of Congress ID: DA00859495
- HAL Id: 00452560
- Wikipedia ID: Matthew Perry (naval officer)
- MILV ID: MILV272652
- KAC ID: 2030
- ISNI: 070916977
- Open Library ID: OL1781544A
- SNAC ID: vse20251268184
- Wikidata ID: P41333
- Commons category: Matthew Perry (naval officer)

These identifiers reflect his historical significance and the extensive documentation available about his life and career.

## References

1. Find a Grave
2. BnF authorities
3. Integrated Authority File
4. International Plant Names Index
5. Czech National Authority Database
6. Bionomia
7. International Standard Name Identifier
8. Virtual International Authority File
9. CiNii Research
10. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
11. SNAC
12. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
13. GeneaStar
14. Croatian Encyclopedia
15. [Source](https://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/p/perry_mathews.htm)
16. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
17. CERL Thesaurus
18. Quora
19. [Source](https://bionomia.net/Q61855/specimens?action=collected&institutionCode=US)
20. [Bionomia](https://bionomia.net/dataset/821cc27a-e3bb-4bc5-ac34-89ada245069d)
21. [Source](https://bionomia.net/Q61855/specimens?action=collected&institutionCode=NY)
22. [Bionomia](https://bionomia.net/dataset/d415c253-4d61-4459-9d25-4015b9084fb0)
23. [Source](https://bionomia.net/Q61855/specimens?action=collected&institutionCode=MCZ)