Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-03-19
The Late Com. Perry, u. 8. Navy.

.
The Late Com. Perry, u. 8. Navy.
We yesterday announced the death OF.
Com. Matthew Galbraith Perry, at New
York, on Thursday morning. after a SER
vice of almost halfa century in the q. S.
navy. lie died in the sixty third year of
his age. The father of the deceased was
Christopher Raymond Perry. who be-
came an officer Of the infant marine of
the United States in 1898. His elder
brother was Oliver n. Perry, the hero Of
the battle of Lake Erie. The first Of the
Perry family in this country emigrated
to Massachusetts from Devonshire. Eng
land. about the middle OF the seventeenth
century, Matthew was born in South
Kingston. Rhode Island. and entered the
navy 1909, as midshipman on board
the schooner Revenge, from which he was
soon after transferred to the frigate Pres.
ident.
In November. 1918. he was ordered 10
the frigate United States. and in April.
1914, was sent back to the President.
Toward the end of 1914 he was ordered
to the brig Chippewa, from which vessel
he was transferred to the navy>yard at
Brooklyn, with the rank of Lieutenant.
He thus learned the duties of the profess
sion amid the stirring events Of the war
Of 1919 with Great Britain, when every
officer of our little navy was more or less
in active service.
In August, 1919, he was ordered to
the ship Cyane, which was sent to the
coast Of Africa TO aid the efforts of the
Colonization society in its attempts to
found settlement of free blacks upon the
island OF Sherbro. near Sierra Leone.
The mortality at Sherbro was SO great
that it became evident no colony could be
planted there, and Lieut.. Perry selected
Measurable Cape as a more suitable local
ity for town. He therefore fixed the
locality Of the first settlement Of Liberia.
In May, 1919. Lieut.. Perry WAS put in
command Of the schooner Shark, in which
vessel he twice visited the colony at Mes
urado In the same vessel he also cruis.
ed the waters Of the West Indies, and
captured several pirates.
On his return he was again attached to
the Brooklyn navy-yard, where he re-.
manned until 1924. when he was ordered
to the North Carolina, Of So guns, under
command of Commodore John Rogers.
In this ship he served as first Lieutenant
and captain Of the feet during her whole
cruise. He was then promoted to the
rank of commander, and took charge of
the recruiting service at Boston, in which
employment he continued until 1880,
when he took command of the corvette
Concord. in which he conveyed John
Randolph as United States minister to 81.
Petersburg. and afterwards cruised three
years in the Mediterranean.
When home again he was once more
actively employed at the Brooklyn navy
yard as superintendent Of a school Of gun
practice and in the organization OF a
steam service. He was at this time pro-
NOTED to the rank of captain. and was
offered the command of The exploring ex'
petition, afterward given to Commodore
Wilkes, but for various reasons declined
it. ..--
In 1888, Capt. Perry was sent to Eu-
rope to visit the dock yards and light
houses, and collect from personal inspec
| ton such facts as might be useful in i'm.
) proving those departments of the United
States service. Early in 1899. he. sub
mitted his report to the government. anc
resumed his duties as superintendent o.
{ gun practice, and in preparing plans fol
, the construction and equipment Of the
. Missouri and Mississippi, the first two
ocean steamers in our navy.
While thus employed he was appoint
a ed to the chief command of the Brooklyn
7 navy-yard, in which position he remain
T ed two years, when, at his own request
t he was appointed TO the command Of th'
}. African squadron, sent out under tn
}. provisions of the Ashburton treaty. HI
!. succeeded so we'll in carrying out tn
# provisions OF the treaty. that he received
r the commentator both OF the British ant
American governments.
r In 1916, he sailed as second in com
: mand to Commodore Conner, to the, Gull
Of Mexico, and on the retirement Of tina
officer in March assumed the chief com
mand in time to direct the naval bonn
u bardment at Vera Cruz. Commodor
Perry's " able cooperation" in the sieg
of Vera Cruz was cordially acknowledge
}. by Gen. Scott in his official dispatches.
J. But the most distinguished service il
9 his long career was the expedition /
o Japan. which sailed from the United Safe
n on the Gath Of November, 1852, and i
command Of which Com. Perry negotia
- ted the treaty with Japan. signed on tn
g last day of March. 1854. The impor
If tant events connected with the cxpedi
y ton are still fresh in the public mind
o and VIC need not now do moro than refe
e to them.
It The disease which caused Commodor
d Perry's death was govt in the stomache
d He had complained of feeling poorly 70
g several days past, but was not considered
n in danger until the hour of his death.
d We believe he leaves widow and 81.
u ohildren-three sons end three daughters