Matthew Calbraith Perry: A Typical American Naval Officer - William Elliot Griffis

The author recounts the life and achievements of Commodore Perry, famed for opening Japan to the West. The biography portrays Perry as a disciplined, visionary leader who embodied America’s expanding spirit in the 19th century. Through perseverance and diplomacy, he balanced naval strength with a respect for cultural exchange. Griffis presents Perry as both a symbol of national progress and a man shaped by duty, innovation, and historical destiny.