Matthew Galbraith Perry was a Commodore in the United States Navy who is best known for his role in opening Japan to the West. He was born on April 10, 1794, and died on March 4, 1858. Perry led a naval expedition to Japan in 1853, presenting a letter from President Millard Fillmore, urging the Japanese to open their ports to trade with the United States. This led to the signing of the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854, which marked the end of Japan's policy of isolation and the beginning of diplomatic relations with the Western world. Perry's efforts significantly impacted Japan's modernization and its integration into the global community.