1855 Fiji expedition

1855 American research expedition September 2026 1855 Fiji expedition the Fiji expeditions Urville-Viti-Lebouka2.jpg 300 Lautoka on Viti Levu in 1842. 17 37 27 S 177 27 10 E inline,title October 1855 Lautoka, Viti Levu, Fiji US military victory Fijian villages destroyed US punitive action left satisfied Flag of the United States (1851–1858).svg United States Flag of the Kingdom of Fiji (1871-1874).svg Kingdom of Fiji Naval jack of the United States (1851–1858).svg Edward Boutwell Flag of the Kingdom of Fiji (1871-1874).svg Seru Cakobau 1 frigate; landing party of U.S. Marines and sailors Unknown 1 killed2 wounded Unknown In October 1855, the United States Navy sent a warship to Fiji during the civil war on the islands. They demanded compensation from Seru Epenisa Cakobau, the Vunivalu of Bau and self-proclaimed Tui Viti (King of Fiji), in response to the alleged arson attacks on the American commercial agent in Lautoka, Viti Levu.Casualties: U. S. Navy and Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Wounded in Wars, Conflicts, Terrorist Acts, and Other Hostile Incidents http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq56-1.htm 22 February 2010 Naval History and Heritage Command 2014-08-19 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070605234857/http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq56-1.htm June 5, 2007 U.S. Dept. of State Memorandum on Fiji land claims https://books.google.com/books?id=8tXlAAAAMAAJ&q=john+b+williams 1902 US Government Printing Office 55–56 2014-08-19 Expedition The initial incident that led to the American expedition was the burning in 1849 of the house owned by agent John Brown Williams when it was hit by cannon fire. A subsequent incident happened the same year as the expedition when, again, fire was to interrupt Williams's duties. Another accidental fire on Nukulau destroyed his store, and some Fijians looted it. John Adams 1799 2, under Commander Edward B. Boutwell, was sent to monitor the unrest in October, and her crew landed multiple times to protect American interests. When Commander Boutwell heard of the incidents involving William's house and store, he demanded US$5,000 in compensation from King Cakobau. This initial claim was supplemented by further claims totalling $45,000. He gave the natives a deadline and threatened them with a landing party of marines and sailors to capture the king in the island's village if they failed to pay. Fijian warriors put up some resistance, one American service man was killed, and two were wounded. Ultimately the Adams's men were successful in routing a contingent of natives from Lautoka, but Cakobau and the survivors escaped capture. Cakobau's claim to be King of Fiji was by no means universally recognised by his fellow-chiefs who jealously guarded the independence of their fiefdoms. If he acknowledged the debt, he did not have sufficient funds to pay it, yet if he disclaimed it by saying that it fell under the jurisdiction of another chief, he would jeopardize his claim to the kingship, which he wanted foreign powers to recognise. He decided to bide his time, hoping that the Americans were only bluffing. "Believing that the natives had been taught a lesson to be remembered, and conditions having settled to normal, the Commander took his departure on November 4th."Ellsworth Harry Allason One Hundred Eighty Landings of United States Marines 1800-1934 January 29, 2013 History and Museums Division Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps 978-1482308280 An 1858 Fiji expedition, involving the crew of Vandalia 1828 2, achieved clearer results,A Chronology of the U. S. Navy: 1775-1965 https://books.google.com/books?id=UExCAAAAIAAJ&q=uss+john+adams+viti+levu+fiji Cooney David M. 1965 F. Watts 72 2014-08-19 and the debt itself was not resolved until 1862. References Fiji expedition Fiji expedition Category:1855 in Fiji Fiji expedition Category:Pacific Ocean Category:United States Navy in the 19th century Category:Battles involving the United States Category:Pacific expeditions Category:Punitive expeditions of the United States Category:Violence against indigenous peoples in Oceania Category:Fiji–United States relations