Commodore Matthew Perry was a United States Navy officer born on April 10, 1794. He is best known for his role in opening Japan to the West in the mid-19th century. In 1853, he led a fleet of four warships to Tokyo Bay, initiating diplomatic relations between the United States and Japan after over two centuries of isolation. Perry's efforts culminated in the signing of the Treaty of Kanagawa in 1854, which established trade relations and marked the beginning of Japan's modernization. His actions significantly influenced Japan's transition from a feudal society to a more industrialized nation.