Morrison incident

It has been alleged that King used the pretext of repatriating seven Japanese castaways, among them Yamamoto Otokichi, to try to open trade with Japan.

[1] In addition to its commercial aims, the ship was attempting to repatriate seven shipwrecked Japanese citizens who had been picked up in Macau.

In July 1837, Charles W. King set off with the seven Japanese aboard an American merchant ship called the SS Morrison, on which he sailed to Uraga at the entrance of Edo Bay.

Men from several small fishing ships boarded the SS Morrison, and sake and cookies were shared until late in the night.

Although the resolution was never passed, the United States government sent an expedition under James Biddle with two heavily armed ships, to induce Japan to negotiate.