Matthew C. Perry
Matthew C. Perry was a commodore of the U.S. Navy.
Contents
History
Fillmore ordered a military expedition to open Japan for international trade, using force if necessary. Perry was appointed to lead this expedition. These "black ships" arrived in Edo Bay on July 14th, 1853. A letter of demands was delivered with the understanding that Perry would return the following year.
At the Convention of Kanagawa, after significant negotiation, the Tokugawa shogunate capitulated to most of Perry's demands. The Japan-US Treaty of Peace and Amity (日米和親条約, nichibei washin jouyaku) was signed on March 31th, 1854, ending the sakoku (鎖国) policy.
While Perry returned, Townsend Harris remained as the first U.S. consul to Japan and negotiated a broader treaty (the Harris Treaty) that would be signed in 1858.