Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-03-11
From the Nelo York Commercial, March 4.
Death of'CommOdOreP Perry.

We announce with the regret which will be
universally felt throughout the Union that
our Navy has just been deprived by death of
one of its most illustrious officers. Commo-
dore Matthew Calbraith Perry died this morn
ing at his residence, No. So West 32d street,
in this city, aged 63:
Commodore Perry was born in South King
stOn, on Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.
His mother was Sarah Alexander. His father
was Christophe Raymond Perry. who became
an officer of the infant marine of the United
States in 1898. His elder brother was Oliver
III. Perry, the hero of the battle of Lake Erie.
The first of the Perry family in this country
emigrated to Massachusetts from Devonshire,
England, about the middle of the seventeenth
century.
Matthew C. Perry entered the United States
Navy as midshipman on the 10th of Janua-
ry, 1909, when he Immediately joined the
schooner Revenge, from which he was soon
after transferred to the frigate President
In November. 1913, he was ordered to the
frigate United States, and in April, 1914, was
sent back to the President. Towards the end
of 1914, he was ordered to the brig Chippewa,
from which vessel he transferred to the
Navy Yard at Brooklyn, with the rank of
lieutenant. He thus learned the duties of his
profession amid the stirring events of the war
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 attempt TO found a 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 locality for
"A town He therefore fixed the locality of the
first settlement at Liberia
In May 1921, Lieut.. Perry was put in COM
mand of the schooner Shark, in which vessel
he twice visited the colony at Mesurado In
the same vessel he also cruised the waters of
West Indies, and captured several pirates.
On his return, he was again attached to the
Brooklyn navy yard, where he remained until
1924, when he was ordered to the North Caro-
lima, of 90 guns, under command of Commo-
dore John Rogers. In this ship he served as
6rst Lieutenant, and captain of the fleet du-
ring her whole cruise. lie was then promot,
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 ST. Petersburg, and after
ward cruised three years in the Ncditerra-
mean.
When home again, he was once more active
" employed at the Brooklyn navy yard as SUI
perintendent of school of gun practice, and
in the organization of a steam naval service.
lie was Mt this time promoted to the rank
OF captain, aud was offered the command of
the exploring expedition afterward given 10
Commodore Wilkes. but for various reasons
declined il.
In 1855, Capt Perry was sent to Europe to
visit the ck-yards and lighthouses, and
collect from personal Inspection such facts As
might be useful In improving n sc depart
ments Of the United States service. Early in
1889 he submitted his report 10 the Govern
meat, and resumed his duties superinten-
dent Of gun practice, and in preparing plans
for the construction and equipment OF the
Missouri and the Mississippi, the hrst two ocean
steamers in our navy.
While thus employed he was appointed to
the chief command OF the Brooklya navy
ward, In which position he remained two
wears when, at his owl request, be was APP
pointed 10 the command Of the African squad
ron, sent out under the provisions of the Ash
burton treaty. lie succeeded 70 well in car
rying out the proyisions of the treaty that he
received the commentator Of both the Brit
ish and American governments.
In 1916, be sailed rs second In command TO
Commodore Conner, 20 the Gulf Of Mexico.
aud on the retirement Of that ofiicer in March
assumed the chief command in time 70 direct
the naval bombardment Of Vera Cruz.
Commodore Pefry's :. able cooperation In
the<iege Of Vera Cruz was cordially aeknowi-
edged BY General Scott In his Official des-
patches.
The most distinguished service in his long
career Was the expedition % japan, Which
November, 1852, aad IN command Of which
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