1750 - 1778

I fear nothing but what I ought to fear. I am much more afraid of doing a foolish action than of loosing my life. I aim for a character of conduct, as well as courage, and hope never to throw away a vessel and crew merely to convince the world I have courage. No one has dared to impeach it yet. If any should, I will not leave them a moment of doubt. 

Nicholas Biddle to his brother, Charles, 16 June 1776

Captain Nicholas Biddle was born in Philadelphia on 10 September 1750 to William Biddle, one of the first settlers of New Jersey.  Young Nicholas began a 15 year career at sea when he joined the merchant service at the age of 13.  Edward Biddle wrote in the 1917 Proceedings that "He [Nicholas] was brought up to the sea, and when less than 16 years of age gave striking proof of the courage and fortitude for which in after life he became distinguished." (Biddle, 1993)

The proof he wrote of was related to the wreck in January, 1766, of the vessel in which Nicholas and his brother Charles were serving.  Nicholas, with three other crew members, remained on an island off the coast of Yucatan while Charles and the remainder of the crew sailed a yawl to St. George's Key for help.  Nicholas barely survived the two week ordeal.  Charles stated that

When we came within a quarter of a mile of the landing I stood up and called to my brother and Armstrong (one of the crew).  Nothing could exceed their joy....it was near two weeks we had been absent.  I was shocked to see how miserable they looked.  The water on the island was so bad that nothing but necessity could induce them to drink it.

In 1772 Nicholas received a midshipman's appointment in the Royal Navy where he served beside Horatio Nelson, later Lord Nelson.  Both young men were reported to have been appointed coxswains, a position usually assigned to the most "active and trusty seamen." (1995)

Biddle resigned his commission when war with England appeared imminent and returned to America where the state of Pennsylvania gave him command of the armed galley Franklin.  He was one of the first five Captains when the American Navy was organized on August 1, 1775.  Next, given command of the 14 gun brig Andrea Doria, Biddle captured several merchant vessels  in an expedition to the Bahamas.

In December 1775, Biddle assumed command of the 14-gun brig Andrew Doria. While operating with the fleet commanded by Esek Hopkins, Andrew Doria  captured numerous armed merchantmen.

 

Captain Nicholas Biddle was born 10 September 1750 in Philadelphia. At the age of 13 he went to sea in the merchant service, and in 1772 entered the British Navy as a midshipman. As tension mounted between the Colonies and the Crown, Biddle resigned his commission and returned to America, volunteering his services to his home state of Pennsylvania. On 01 August, 1775 he became Commanding Officer of the armed galley FRANKLIN, which had been fitted out by the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety to defend the Delaware.   In December 1775, Captain Biddle took command of the 14-gun brig ANDREW DORIA and joined the fleet commanded by Esek Hopkins in the expedition against New Providence. In this action ANDREW DORIA captured numerous armed merchantmen, including two armed transports carrying 400 reinforcements for the British Army in North America.   Later, Captain Biddle assumed command of RANDOLPH, which was manned in part by paroled British prisoners of war. These prisoners mutinied shortly after the ship sailed, but the superb leadership of the 27 year old captain ended the trouble quickly.   Violent storms dismasted his ship off the Delaware Capes, but Captain Biddle's superb seamanship brought RANDOLPH into Charleston for repairs. he sailed again for the West Indies on 04 September, 1777 and enroute captured HMS TRUE BRITON, along with her three ship convoy. Captain Biddle took his fourth prize back to Charleston and blockaded there until late February 1778, when he successfully eluded the British patrol and escaped to the open sea.   On 07 March, 1778 RANDOLPH, 32 guns, engaged HMS YARMOUTH, 64 guns. Despite his firepower disadvantage and a severe wound received early in action, Captain Biddle brilliantly directed the cannon fire of his ship, and YARMOUTH's commanding officer later reported that RANDOLPH fired three accurate broadsides to YARMOUTH's one. Tragically, however, fire penetrated RANDOLPH's powder magazines, and the ship exploded and sank instantly. Captain Biddle perished, and his 315 man crew had only four survivors.   Thus ended the brief but illustrious career of Captain Nicholas Biddle, Continental Navy. His life ended short of its twenty eighth year, but his spirit lives on in the ship that bears his name.   "I fear nothing but what I ought to fear. I am much more afraid of doing a foolish action than of loosing my life. I aim for a character of conduct, as well as courage, and hope never to throw away a vessel and crew merely to convince the world I have courage. No one has dared to impeach it yet. If any should, I will not leave them a moment of doubt." Nicholas Biddle to his brother, Charles, 16 June 1776

Nicholas Biddle was born in Philadelphia. At the age of thirteen, he went on a voyage to the West Indies, during which he was marooned on a desert island for two months. In 1770, he became a midshipman in the Royal Navy. In 1773, he resigned from the navy in order to join Captain Constantine Phipps expedition to the Arctic. While on this trip, he met the future Lord Nelson.

[edit] Service with the Continentals

As the American Revolution threatened to break out, he returned to the colonies and offered his services to the state of Pennsylvania. In August 1775, the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety placed Biddle in command of the armed galley Franklin.

In December 1775, he was made Captain of the 14-gun brig Andrew Doria. He participated in the expedition against New Providence, capturing numerous vessels as well as British army transports.

He participated in a cruise of the Newfoundland Banks that was so successful in the taking of ships, that when he returned to port he had only five sailors left on board his ship; the rest were crewing the prizes.

[edit] Last assignment

On June 6, 1776, he was appointed by Continental Congress to command the Randolph, a 32-gun frigate then being built in Philadelphia. She was launched near the close of the year, and sailed early in 1777. In September 1777, Biddle captured HMS True Briton and her three-ship convoy.

On March 17, 1778, off Barbados, the Randolph encountered the British 64-gun ship-of-the-line HMS Yarmouth. Rather than trying to flee from the more heavily armed opponent, the Randolph engaged in battle. An eyewitness reported the frigate held her own in the twenty minute engagement, appearing, "to fire four or five broadsides to the Yarmouth's one." Sadly, after Biddle was wounded, the Randolph blew up killing all but four of the 310 on board including Biddle. The loss of Randolph was a serious blow to the fledgling Continental Navy.

His brother, Edward Biddle, was a staunch advocate for American independence, and his nephew, Nicholas Biddle (1786-1844), was an esteemed banker.

Four ships of the United States Navy have been named for him.

 

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 10, 1750 into a banking family. He began his sea-going career on a merchantman at the age of 13.  Thereafter, in 1772, he received a midshipman's appointment with the Royal Navy serving in same beside Horatio Nelson, leaving that service when rebellion appearred imminent. Joining the rebel cause when war broke out, he was given command of the armed galley Franklin by the State of Pennsylvania.  She served as a gunboat on the Delaware. He next received one of the five Captaincys alloted when the American Navy was organized on August 1, 1775. Given command of the brig Andrea Doria, 14 guns, he was under command of Captain Esek Hopkins in the expedition to the Bahamas and at the taking of New Providence.  There Biddle captured several merchant vessels.                 In 1777 he took command of the Randolph, 32 guns, being the first frigate launched for the American Navy. He took her to sea, quickly facing and putting down a mutiny by his crew, many of whom were former British prisoners of war.  After the mutiny came a storm which forced him to port for repairs.  In September of 1777 he sailed again, taking several prizes in a cruise off the Southern coasts including the H.M.S. True Britton. He then made a courier cruise to France. Upon his return he put into Charleston to have his ship cleared of bottom hamper.                   On February 12, 1778 Biddle made his final voyage, leaving Charleston in company of three North Carolina Navy ships of lesser size on a cruise to the West Indies. On March 7, 1778 Biddle sighted and engaged the Yarmouth, a British Ship-of-the-Line of 64 guns in an Action off Barbados. Biddle's attack was courageous as the larger ship clearly out gunned his slight craft. His intent was probably to cripple her rigging. However, after damaging her rigging his ship was struck in the magazine and exploded, killing all but four hands. His loss was a great one to the Rebel cause as he was clearly not only brave but a leader capable of leading his men to follow him into such an encounter. Biddle is remembered as one of the bravest Naval Captains of the War.                  Three United States Warships have been named in Biddle's honor.  The first was a coastal torpedo boat built in 1901, later renamed No.12 to allow the name's use on a destroyer. This torpedo boat served through the World War I era.  Next was the DD151, a four stack flush deck destroyer laid down in 1918 and completed in 1919.  She served through World War II, having one stack removed and other modifications made for modernization. The fourth is the U.S.S. Biddle DLG-34 now designated CG34, being a missile cruiser launched in 1963 which served in Vietnam and other conflicts and remains in service at this time.