Description:

Matthew C. Perry & Abel P. Upshur Signed Naval Doc Re: "Brig Oregon," Lately Returned from U.S. Exploring Expedition

A letter signed by Matthew C. Perry (1794-1858), then in his role as Commandant of the Brooklyn Navy Yard and New York Naval Station, signed in part as, "M.C. Perry / Comdg" at lower right; and counter signed by 13th U.S. Secretary of the Navy Abel P. Upshur (1790-1844), signed as, "A P Upshur" near center right. Issued from the Navy Department on November 17, 1842. Inscribed in a secretarial hand on bifold paper, the inner pages blank and the outermost page docketed. Expected wear including flattened paper folds and minor ink ghost impressions, else near fine. 7.75" x 10."

The Navy Department memorandum ordered Passed Midshipman J.C. Williamson "to report to Capt: Perry for duty on board the Brig Oregon…"

In 1842, Matthew C. Perry was a seasoned career naval officer with more than 30 years in the service. Perry had been promoted to the rank of Commodore in June 1840, around the same time that he was also appointed Commandant of the Brooklyn Navy Yard and the New York Naval Station. Perry lived in the Commandant's House in the Vinegar Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn overlooking the waterfront during his tenure as Commandant, ca. 1841-1843. Navy Secretary Upshur was directing Williamson to report to Perry, who, as administrator of the New York City naval complex, would in turn release him to his duties aboard the "Oregon." In 1843, Perry would assume command of the Africa Squadron, tasked with policing the waters off the African coast to prevent slave trafficking.

The "U.S.S. Oregon" (formerly the private vessel "Thomas H. Perkins") was purchased and outfitted in late 1841 to take part in the United States Exploring Expedition of the northwestern territories. The "Oregon," commanded by Lieutenant Garland Overton Carr (1817-1846), would sail by way of San Francisco, Hawaii, Singapore, South Africa, St. Helena, and Brazil before mooring off Sandy Hook, New Jersey in June 1842. The "Oregon" was docked in New York City--at Commandant Perry's naval yards--for refitting until it sailed in early December 1842. The "Oregon" (and presumably Passed Midshipman Williamson) were bound for surveying service in the Gulf of Mexico.

Passed Midshipman J.C. Williamson was almost certainly New Jersey native James C. Williamson (1813-1871), who joined the U.S. Navy in January 1832 and was promoted to Passed Midshipman in 1839. (A passed midshipman is the term historically used to describe a midshipman who had passed his exams, and who was eligible for promotion to lieutenant when a vacancy became available.)

James C. Williamson's profile can be found in Lewis Randolph Hamersly's authoritative "Revised Edition, The Records of Living Officers of the U. S. Navy and Marine Corps" (Philadelphia, J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1870), p. 108. Williamson's service on the "brig Oregon" is not explicitly listed in this source, but there is a gap in Williamson's service record between 1841-1843 that is unaccounted for and straddles this exact time frame. A career naval officer, Williamson served in naval squadrons in the Mediterranean, West Indies, East Indies, Brazil, and Africa. During the Civil War, Williamson commanded steamers in both the East Gulf and South Atlantic Blockading Squadrons, eventually attaining the rank of Captain in 1866.

An interesting letter from an under-documented and overlooked period of Perry's career, well before Perry compelled the Japanese to open their closed society to trade in 1854.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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