− | James Biddle was a United States Navy Commodore who sought to "open" Japan in [[1846]], prior to [[Commodore Perry]]. He arrived at [[Uraga]] Bay in July 1846 with two ships, the [[USS Columbus|USS ''Columbus'']] and [[USS Vincennes|USS ''Vincennes'']]. They spent seven days there before receiving a formal rejection from the [[Tokguawa shogunate]] of the request to see Japanese ports opened to American ships. Not desiring armed conflict, the two ships then departed. | + | James Biddle was a United States Navy Commodore who sought to "open" Japan in [[1846]], prior to [[Commodore Perry]]. He arrived at [[Uraga]] Bay in July 1846 with two ships, the [[USS Columbus|USS ''Columbus'']] and [[USS Vincennes|USS ''Vincennes'']]. They spent seven days there before receiving a formal rejection from the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] of the request to see Japanese ports opened to American ships. Not desiring armed conflict, the two ships then departed. |