The Great White Fleet in Japan

July 15, 2022

The Great White Fleet in Japan

New to our inventory is an embroidered souvenir banner, welcoming the U.S. Navy men of the Great White Fleet to Japan. Made in Japan, this is just one of several Great White Fleet banners we have had in our collection. The decorative complexity of these Japanese-made banners range from simple designs, on linen with two or three-colored threads, to the more elaborate, intricate, and fanciful, like our grand American eagle “E Pluribus Unum” banner embroidered on silk with metallic thread and silk floss. 

"E Pluribus Unum" Silk Embroidered Detail

The Great White Fleet was a popular nickname for the group of United States Navy battleships that completed a journey around the globe to the Pacific, from December 16, 1907 to February 22, 1909, by order of United States President Theodore Roosevelt. A former assistant secretary of the Navy, Roosevelt brought to the White House a deep conviction that only through a strong navy could a nation project its power and prestige abroad. The United States had recently acquired territories in the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico, and it needed to defend those new territories overseas. Meanwhile, the Japanese had made quite a display of their own naval might in the 1904-05 Russo-Japanese War. 

Relations with Japan were further stressed in 1906, by a series of laws which discriminated against Japanese immigrants in California. These laws were ultimately repealed at Roosevelt’s insistence. While this aided in calming the situation, relations remained strained and Roosevelt decided the White Fleet would serve as both a diplomatic olive branch and a reminder of U.S. Naval power. 

The fleet consisted of 16 battleships, divided into two squadrons, all with white painted hulls. The fleet sailed from Hampton Roads on December 16, 1907 and made twenty port calls on six continents, with stops including New Zealand, Australia, Ceylon, Egypt, and Japan.

In Japan, the fleet was greeted with exceptional hospitality. School children sang versions of "Hail Columbia" and the "Star-Spangled Banner," as Japanese destroyers escorted the fleet into the bay. Sperry and his naval officers were housed at the Emperor's Palace and the famed Imperial Hotel. In port for a week, the men of the fleet were treated to parties, including one hosted by famed Admiral Togo Heihachiro, as well as parades and public celebrations. The goal of bolstering good will between the two nations was achieved. Shortly after the Great White Fleet’s visit, the United States and Japan signed the Root-Takahira accord in which, among other things, both countries agreed to respect the other’s Pacific possessions.






Also in Blog

The Inspiration Behind Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
The Inspiration Behind Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

December 01, 2023

Before the films and stage adaptations, the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was written and published as a novella by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson in 1886. It is said that the author drew inspiration from a dream to spin the now-famous tale. Many claim that it was real-life killers who implanted such ideas in his mind.

View full article →

Civil War Memoirs
Civil War Memoirs

November 29, 2023

In the 1880's, several Civil War memoirs were published for an eager public, desperate to make sense of the conflict. The best-selling Civil War memoirs were those of prominent Union generals, like Sheridan, Sherman, Grant, and McClellan. Their books focused on organizational difficulties, military tactics, and battle descriptions, or were used to justify their decisions and bring retrospective order to the war. 

View full article →

2023 Holiday Gift Guides: Our Favorite Stocking Stuffers
2023 Holiday Gift Guides: Our Favorite Stocking Stuffers

November 17, 2023

We've rounded up our favorite stocking stuffers and small gifts. Beautifully crafted leather goods, antique finds, pocket flasks, sparkly jewelry, winter essentials, and more- these are the perfect gifts to surprise and delight on Christmas morning!

View full article →