Discover the definitive biography of the American naval hero who opened the doors of Japan to the modern world.

Step back into the thrilling age of steam and sail with this engrossing biography of Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry. Master historian William Elliot Griffis, who lived and taught in Japan during the transformative Meiji era, provides an authoritative and richly detailed account of Perry's monumental life and mission.

This classic work delves far beyond the legendary 1854 expedition. It traces Perry’s distinguished career from the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War to his role as a pioneering advocate for a modern, steam-powered navy. Meticulously researched and written with a deep understanding of both American and Japanese perspectives, Griffis’s biography paints a vivid portrait of a complex man of unwavering duty, formidable character, and profound vision.