Matthew C. Perry was a determined and tenacious captain of his fleet. He was a demanding officer, expecting his ships and subordinates to follow orders with little dissent and rarely seeking feedback. Although he was highly educated, even-tempered, and extraordinarily detail-oriented, his intensity often bordered on obsession; everything from his preparations to his expeditions to Japan involved planned responses, psychological tactics, and extensive research into Japanese politics to ensure he stayed one step ahead. He combined formal diplomacy with calculated intimidation, presenting respect through ceremonial overtures while maintaining a visible military presence through the “black ships.” Perry was also deeply invested in shaping the narrative of the expedition and securing authorship of its legacy.

However, despite his self-perception as a disciplined and visionary leader, many of his own officers and crew viewed him far less favorably. He was often regarded as harsh, inflexible, and difficult to work under. Letters and logs from sailors describe him as overbearing and dismissive, someone who demanded near-perfect obedience and left little room for personal rapport. Respect for Perry often stemmed from his rank and authority rather than charisma or interpersonal skill. His men admired his competence and thoroughness but frequently resented his severity and aloofness, which contributed to a reputation as a leader who commanded compliance more than loyalty. This negative perception within his fleet complicates his image and underscores the contradictions between how Perry saw himself and how others experienced him.

Perry’s Self-Perception

Perry viewed himself as a modern naval professional representing a rising commercial and maritime power. He believed he embodied American order, technological superiority, and manifest destiny. In his journals, he framed the Japan expedition as a civilizing encounter, almost an instructional mission where U.S. naval discipline, elaborate ceremony, and steam technology would demonstrate the inevitability of American expansion. To him, sternness was necessary, inflexibility was resolve, and protocol was a tool to secure respect. The expedition was not merely diplomacy but a carefully staged performance meant to convey American seriousness.

Japanese Officials’ Likely Perception

From the Tokugawa perspective, Perry likely appeared far more disruptive and confrontational than he intended. His insistence on meeting senior officials directly, his arrival with heavily armed steamships, and his refusal to follow local protocol challenged established diplomatic norms. Japanese observers probably saw him as forceful and unyielding, someone who relied on spectacle and technology to pressure rather than persuade. While his strict discipline and ritual may have signaled a powerful and organized foreign state, the overwhelming display of military strength made his gestures of respect difficult to interpret outside the frame of intimidation.