1855 Fiji expedition

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. , 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."

An 1858 Fiji expedition, involving the crew of , achieved clearer results, and the debt itself was not resolved until 1862.

References

References

1. (22 February 2010). "Casualties: U. S. Navy and Marine Corps Personnel Killed and Wounded in Wars, Conflicts, Terrorist Acts, and Other Hostile Incidents". Naval History and Heritage Command.
2. U.S. Dept. of State. (1902). "Memorandum on Fiji land claims". US Government Printing Office.
3. Ellsworth, Harry Allason. (January 29, 2013). "One Hundred Eighty Landings of United States Marines 1800-1934". History and Museums Division Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.
4. Cooney, David M.. (1965). "A Chronology of the U. S. Navy: 1775-1965". F. Watts.