Perry

Perry, name of two U.S. brothers who became distinguished naval officers. Oliver Hazard Perry (1785–1819), became a hero of the War of 1812. After assembling a fleet of nine ships at Erie, Pa., he defeated six British warships on Sep. 10, 1813, off Put-in-Bay, Ohio, the Battle of Lake Erie. He announced his victory in the famous message, “We have met the enemy and they are ours.” Matthew Calbraith Perry (1794–1858) was instrumental in opening Japan to the U.S. and world trade. He commanded the first U.S. steam warship, the Fulton II (1838) and led U.S. naval forces suppressing the slave trade; he also fought in the Mexican War. In 1853 Commodore Perry took four vessels into Tokyo Bay and remained there until a Japanese envoy agreed to receive President Millard Fillmore's request for a diplomatic and trade treaty. He returned in Feb. 1854 to conclude the treaty, which was a turning point in U.S.-Japanese relations.

See also: Navy, United States.