Rash's Surname Index
Notes for James BIDDLE
BIDDLE, James, naval officer, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 18, 1783. At the age of seventeen he joined the United States navy, and three years later was serving as midshipman in the frigate Philadelphia when she was wrecked and captured near Tripoli, and all on board held as prisoners, during the war with the Barbary states. Upon his release he was assigned to ordinary duty until 1812, when he entered active service on board the sloops-of-war Wasp, and when that
vessel captured the Frolic he was given command of the prize. Both ships were badly damaged, and before they were able to get under sail they were captured by the British seventy-four pounder, Poictiers. After his exchange, in 1813, he was promoted master-commandant, given command of the gunboat flotilla in the Delaware, but subsequently transferred to the Hornet, with which he ran the blockade at New London, Conn., and sailed to Tristan d'Acunha. On March 23,
1815, he met the Penguin and succeeded in capturing and destroying the British brig, being himself severely wounded. Upon repairing damages he soon encountered an English line-of-battle ship, and only escaped by throwing overboard all his guns. He reached New York after peace had been declared, and found a promotion to post-captain, a gold medal from Congress, and a silver
service from Philadelphia awaiting him. A state dinner was also given in his honor by New York. After the close of the war he remained in active service, being commander of squadrons in several foreign ports, and negotiated commercial treaties with Turkey and with China. In 1817 he was sent by the U.S. government to take formal post-session of Oregon. From 1838 to 1842 he was
governor of the Philadelphia naval asylum, and during his term of office there he introduced a course of instruction to unassigned midshipmen, and was the first naval officer to propose a naval school. He died in Philadelphia, Oct. 1, 1848.
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