Perry, Matthew
Perry, Matthew (1794–1858), naval diplomat and reformer.Perry entered the U.S. Navy in 1809 as midshipman under his brother, Oliver Hazard Perry, then served on the frigate USS President during the War of 1812, and was wounded when it exchanged fire with the Belvidera. In the 1830s, Perry became a leader in the movement to improve naval education and training and to have the navy adopt steamships. During the Mexican War he directed attacks on Frontera, Tabasco, and Carmen in 1846, and after assuming command of the Home Squadron in March 1847, Perry conducted the U.S. Army's amphibious landing at Vercruz; he also supervised the capture of Tuxpan and the blockade of Mexico's east coast.
After the war, in his famous expedition to open the closed society of Japan, Perry led four U.S. warships into Tokyo Bay on 8 July...
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