Hawaii's Connection to Commodore Perry's Expedition to Japan

Commodore Matthew Perry (1794-1858) is the 19th century American who is credited with opening Japan to the West. Many people do not know that he served in the War of 1812, the Second Barbary War, on patrols off Liberia, the suppression of the slave trade in the West Indies and so on. He was also broke new ground as one of America’s first advocates for steamships.

There is a Hawaii connection to the opening of Japan by Commodore Perry, mostly documented in local news reports of the time.

The May 1852 edition of The Friend, published in Honolulu by Rev. Samuel C. Damon, briefly mentioned the “last mail from the U.S. brings intelligence that an expedition including several war steamers, a Frigate, and a Corvette, under the command of Com. Perry was about to sail to Japan,” referencing a similar story in the San Francisco Herald. In the August edition of The Friend officers of the Dutch frigate ‘Prince of Orange’ in New York were quoted saying that the emperor “has strongly fortified every party of his coast.” The story ended by saying, “The precaution is doubtless an unnecessary one, as the expedition is strictly of a peaceful character.”

Referencing an edition of Scientific American, The Friend’s February 1853 issue mentions some of the items being taken from the United States to Japan. These include “a locomotive and ten miles of railroad iron; a telegraphic apparatus, with wire sufficient to lead from the Emperor’s palace to one of the principal towns; an apparatus for taking Daguerreotypes; a magnificent barge for the Emperor, and some fifty boxes of domestic goods of all descriptions.”

The Boston Post was quoted in the May 1853 edition of The Friend, citing the comments of an unnamed gentleman just returned from a trip to China. People were keeping a strict lookout all over the Japanese coast with “fires burning in the mountains at night” in case the squadron was to appear under the shadow of darkness.

A story from southern China from the November 1853 edition, and dated August 10, reported that the “steamers Susquehana and Mississippi have returned from Japan.” These two steamer ships with the Plymouth and Saratoga in tow “entered the bay of Jeddo in July last and were boarded by the Mandarins. An attempts was made to surround them as usual with boats which the Commodore successfully resisted.” Reportedly the “Commodore went ashore and entertained by the authorities sumptuously. He dispatched the President’s message to the Emperor, with the request for him to weigh well the matters therein contained, take time to consider well his answer, for which he would again call in the spring, hoping that it might be favorable.” At that point Perry returned to Hong Kong, then under British rule.

It was an accepted practice in those days for newspapers to quote each other, and The Friend featured an article in its May 6, 1854 edition announcing the signing of the Treaty of Kanagawa from another Honolulu news source, ‘The Polynesian.’ “The Japanese finally met Commodore Perry not as an enemy, but friend.” The article mentions that a primary influence on Japan’s decision was the presence of whaling ships, according to one of the officers of the Saratoga. The article announced that trade would be opened in March 1855, one year after the signing on March 28, 1854 according to published reports.

The Saratoga, under the command of Captain W.S. Walker, arrived in Honolulu on April 25, 1854, just 25 days sail from Japan and apparently setting a record voyage. The Friend proclaimed, “Com. Perry has proved himself a skilful diplomatist, and additional distinction has been earned for the American name and nation.”

Rev. Damon, as editor and publisher speculated on the effects of this historical event on the course of history. “Had we time or space, we might enlarge upon the probable effects of this important measure; -its influence upon the commerce of the Pacific; upon the Atlantic and Pacific railroad; upon the line of trans-Pacific steamers, touching at these Islands, &c., &c. But we must close, for the present moment, merely with particulars, the opening of Japan by Com. Perry will exert a most important influence, and may possibly prove the only additional spur that was needed to put them all in motion.”

There are a number of learning resources and online exhibits about Perry, the ‘Japan Expedition’ he commanded, the Treaty of Kanagawa of 1854 and its effects. All are ideal for classroom use and for history-buffs alike.

This link provides visitors with a good introductory history of Perry’s expedition to Japan, complete with a couple of scanned woodcut illustrations and citation of sources.

One of the United Kingdom’s finest museums is the Fitzwilliam Museum at the University of Cambridge. The Fitzwilliam featured an exhibit at the Glaisher Gallery April 1-July 5, 2009. It turns out that Commodore Perry was an avid coin collector. If you missed it you are not to be disappointed, for an online exhibit is available.

Columnist Derek Hayes with FineBooksMagazine.com has written another first-rate article: Made in Japan: Perry’s Expedition Forged Nearly a Century of Peaceful and Lucrative Trade

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) since 2004 has published ‘Visualizing Cultures: Black Ships and Samurai: Commodore Perry and the Opening of Japan 1853-1854,’ an online exhibition as part of the Institute's Visualising Cultures initiative. The exhibition focuses on the visual representations of "a pivotal moment in the modern encounter between 'East' and 'West'" and on the people involved.

U.S.-Japan Treaty of Kanagawa of 1854 ended Japan’s virtual isolation from the outside world. The text of the treaty is reproduced here.

If you would like to see a scanned copy of the original English language-version of the treaty you’ll find it in Featured Documents from the National Archives and Records Administration.

Commodore Perry’s grave is in Newport, Rhode Island. In 1917 the Imperial Japanese Mission to the United States paid tribute by placing a memorial wreath on his grave.