Yankee Surveyors in Imperial Waters - The Perry Expedition to Japan

Admiral Matthew Perry, born 1794 in Rhode Island, isleave and was determined to accomplish his mission.
from a sea-going family. During 1809 he wasWhen met with representatives of the Tokugawa
commissioned at the age of 15. He led an expedition toShogunate, they told him to proceed to Nagasaki
Japan which mirrored Manifest Destiny dynamicwhere there was limited trade, and he refused. He
expansion in Western America from 1845 to 1860.demanded permission to present a letter from
Additionally, his expedition paralleled the Golden Age ofPresident Millard Fillmore to the emperor, and
America's whaling in the Pacific during the 1850s.threatened to use force if denied. He refused to allow
Admiral Perry, as a military strategist and diplomat,the Japanese on his vessels, refused to sail to
envisioned a great opportunity in Japan. His expeditionNagasaki, refused to speak with locals, and stated that
had the following goals:he was bound by American law to survey Japan's
1) develop protection for American seamen, especiallycoastlines, and would send his ships to Tokyo if his
those who were shipwrecked;requests were denied. Based on his determination the
2) develop maps for travel;Japanese submitted to his requests.
3) expand whaling operation;He treated the Japanese with dignity, appropriate
4) protect and expand American commerce;ceremony, and completed his mission without any
5) attack and deter piracy;violence or killing. His success resulted in trade;
6) explore and collect information; andspreading of Western American civilization to Asia;
7) chart the Pacific basin. The North Pacific wasand various versions of Dutch, Chinese and Japanese
considered the most dangerous region to America,treaties. However, the treaties didn't meet the
and Admiral Perry developed practical ways toexpectation of America in the long run; none-the-less,
eliminate the danger.both nations benefitted from the expeditions of Admiral
Based on his expedition, he developed maps, windPerry.
charts, whaling charts, and nautical charts for the U.SDuring his expedition, he changed the names of
Naval Observatory. He also produced: reef maps,several ports and places in Japan to match names in
obstacle charts, routes, headland elevation diagrams,American such as: Plymouth Rock, Fillmore Port, Perry
sailing instructions, land marks, and treaty ports to enterIsland, Susquehanna Bay, Kennedy Port and Webster
Tokyo Bay.Island. The Japanese also built a Bust of Matthew
Admiral Perry pushed his mission with the JapanesePerry in Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan in memory of his
and refused to take no for an answer. He would notvisits.