<Li> Bombardment of Upolu </Li> <Li> Battle of Drummond's Island </Li> <P> The United States Exploring Expedition was an exploring and surveying expedition of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding lands conducted by the United States from 1838 to 1842 . The original appointed commanding officer was Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones . Funding for the original expedition was requested by President John Quincy Adams in 1828, however, Congress would not implement funding until eight years later . In May 1836, the oceanic exploration voyage was finally authorized by Congress and created by President Andrew Jackson . The expedition is sometimes called the "U.S. Ex . Ex ." for short, or the "Wilkes Expedition" in honor of its next appointed commanding officer, United States Navy Lieutenant Charles Wilkes . The expedition was of major importance to the growth of science in the United States, in particular the then - young field of oceanography . During the event, armed conflict between Pacific islanders and the expedition was common and dozens of natives were killed in action, as well as a few Americans . </P> <P> Through the lobbying efforts of Jeremiah N. Reynolds, the United States House of Representatives passed a resolution on 21 May 1828, requesting President John Quincy Adams to send a ship to explore the Pacific . Adams was keen on the resolution and ordered his Secretary of the Navy to ready a ship, the Peacock, while the House voted an appropriation in Dec . Yet, the bill stalled in the US Senate in Feb. 1829 . However, under President Andrew Jackson, Congress passed legislation in 1836 approving the exploration mission . Yet again, the effort stalled under Secretary of the Navy Mahlon Dickerson until President Van Buren assumed office and pushed the effort forward . </P>

Who commanded the south sea exploring expedition from 1838 to 1842