Biddle, James

Extract

Biddle, James (18 February 1783–01 October 1848), naval officer, was born north of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Charles Biddle, an affluent mercantile entrepreneur and politician, and Hannah Shepard. Biddle attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he developed a lifelong love of literature. He and his younger brother, Edward, received their midshipmen’s warrants on 14 February 1800 and joined the frigate ...