James Glynn

Who was James Glynn?

James Glynn was a U.S. Navy officer who in 1848 distinguished himself by being the first American to negotiate successfully with the Japanese during the "Closed Country" period.

James Glynn entered the United States Navy on March 4, 1815. He became a lieutenant in 1825, a commander in 1841, and served on the California coast during the Mexican-American War. He was put in command of the sloop-of-war USS Preble and sent to China.

In Canton, he learnt from the Dutch consul about the imprisonment at Nagasaki of 18 American sailors from the whaleship Lagoda, who had been shipwrecked on the northern Japanese island of Yeso on June 5, 1846. Although the coast of Japan was poorly known, and the American Commander James Biddle, with the ships USS Columbus and USS Vincennes had been recently repelled by the Japanese in the bay of Edo, Glynn was ordered by David Geisinger to leave for Nagasaki, where he arrived on April 17, 1849.

The sailing orders to Captain Glynn recommended both caution and firmness in his enterprise:

"In your correspondence with the Japanese, your conduct will be conciliatory but firm. You will be careful not to violate the laws or customs of the Country, or by any means prejudice the success of any pacific policy our government may be inclined to pursue. Nevertheless you may be placed in situations which cannot be foreseen. In all such cases, every confidence is reposed in your discretion and ability to guard the interests as well as the honor of your country".