Opening Trade with Japan

During the first half of the 19th century, multiple nations unsuccessfully tried to convince Japan to open their ports for trade. United States commerce was growing quickly, and the country was looking for new locations to do business. Commodore James Biddle was assigned the mission of negotiating the first treaty between the United States and China. Once complete, he was to try his luck with Japan.

Biddle sailed from New York in June 1845 and completed the treaty with China early in 1846. In early July, he sailed for Japan. Biddle made his way to Edo (modern-day Tokyo) with a boatload of Marines (pun intended) on the USS Columbus and USS Vincennes, arriving on July 20. Biddle was ultimately unsuccessful in his attempt to open trade with Japan, but the cultural mistakes and lessons learned during his trip would prepare the United States in the future.

In 1852, the U.S. President and Secretary of State planned for another expedition. Commodore Matthew Perry was given command of the East India Squadron and ordered to Japan. The six largest ships in the squadron had Marine detachments, varying in size from 20-50 Marines. The total Marine force assigned to this expedition was six officers and two hundred Marines. Major Jacob Zeilin, the future Commandant of the Marine Corps, was appointed as the senior Marine officer and served with Perry on the Mississippi.

The first troops to land were 100 Marines under Major Zeilin. Perry was the last to debark, and the Marines led the escort to the ceremony. The Japanese government would eventually accept a treaty with the United States and agreed to open two ports as coaling stations and serve as places of safety for Americans shipwrecked along the coast of Japan. This treaty marked a new era for the United States and Japan.

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