# Perry reference to the Perry brothers, Matthew Calbraith (1794-1858) and Oliver Hazard (1785-1819). Matthew was an American naval officer and diplomat who joined the navy in 1809, saw action in the War of 1812 and later served as an officer in the Mediterranean. His chief claim to fame rests on his negotiations with the isolated country of Japan in 1852-1854. He successfully arranged a treaty which opened Japan to the US and the rest of the world. Oliver, his brother, as an American naval officer had been ordered to build a fleet on Lake Erie in the north central US in order to prevent British advance during the War of 1812. On 10 September 1813, the Battle of Lake Erie was fought in which Perry heroically forced the full surrender of the British fleet. Both Perrys were spirited and ruthless naval officers of their time.