James Biddle, the subject of this memoir, is the son of the late Charles Biddle, Esquire, of Philadelphia, and was born in that city on the 18th of February, 1783. He was educated in the University of Pennsylvania, where he acquired a taste for literature, which, in the intervals of professional duty, has been most assiduously cultivated.
In the year 1800, the American navy offered the most flattering prospects to the aspiring youth of our country. Its fame acquired by the war with France was rapidly increasing. The brilliant success of Captain Truxtun, in his victory with the French frigates Insurgente and Vengeance, gave additional eclat to the navy.
To this distinguished commander, Mr. Biddle entrusted the care of his two sons, James and Edward, who, on obtaining midshipmen’s warrants, were attached to the frigate President, fitting for the West Indies. The cessation of hostilities with France brought the frigate again to the United States after a much shorter cruise than was intended, but which was rendered memorable by the melancholy death of Mr. Edward Biddle, who died at sea of a fever after an illness of a few days. Early in 1802, James Biddle sailed to the Mediterranean, in the frigate Constellation, Captain Murray, to protect American commerce against Tripolitan cruisers. This gave our young officer valuable opportunities of renewing his acquaintance with classic writers, and remains of antiquity, obtained by him during his studies at the University, and which were to him an additional fund of instruction and gratification. The Constellation returned home in 1803, and Mr. Biddle was transferred to the frigate Philadelphia, Captain Bainbridge, and returned again to the Mediterranean, where this unfortunate ship struck upon a rock, and was lost.
When all efforts to get the Philadelphia afloat were found to be unavailing, Lieutenant Porter and Midshipman Biddle were dispatched to the commander to inform him of the accident. As they approached the Tripolitan gun-boats, they were fired upon and ordered to surrender. Porter and Biddle were prepared to deliver up their swords, but this ceremony was dispensed with by the savage Tripolitans; twenty of whom, of the most ferocious appearance, armed with sabres, pistols, and muskets, jumped into the boat, and at once commenced their work of insult and plunder. Two of them snatched Biddle’s sword, pulled off his coat, and began to fight for it, when, to decide their dispute, they returned it to him.
His cravat was violently torn from his neck, his waistcoat and shirt torn open, in search for valuables that might be concealed about his person. They searched all his pockets, and took all his papers and money, except twenty dollars in gold, which he had slipped into his boot and thereby secured. The officers and crew were then carried on shore, conducted amidst the shouts and acclamations of a barbarous rabble to the palace gates, and ushered into the presence of the bashaw, who, seated in state, received them in the audience chamber; and after asking a variety of questions about the American squadron, they were conducted to the place assigned for safe keeping.
There is no subject which the imagination can present to us more full of horror than that of slavery among the barbarians of Africa. In this situation, ignorant of the fate of their companions, and doubtful of their own, they continued nineteen months in close and rigorous confinement, in want of pure air, exercise, and employment, with occasional threats by the bashaw of his vengeance; circumstances calculated to impair the health and break the spirits of the strongest and most resolute. Yet happily they preserved their health and their spirits unbroken.
They considered it a point of honor to be firm and cheerful, to disregard the threats of the barbarians, and to sustain by an unconquerable fortitude the character of their country. In consequence of the peace with Tripoli, in the month of September, 1805, they were liberated, and Captain Bainbridge and Midshipman Biddle, who had not separated since the loss of the frigate, returned together to Philadelphia. Upon the release of Mr. Biddle, he was promoted to a lieutenancy, and after remaining at home but a few weeks, he was ordered to the command of one of the gun-boats, then lying at Charleston, South Carolina, but finding this service both inactive and irksome, he obtained an appointment as second lieutenant in the frigate President, under the command of his friend Captain Bainbridge. In this, and other similar situations, he had opportunities to display a character of firmness and decision, jealous of personal honor, and aspiring to deeds of enterprise and of fame. In 1811 he sailed as bearer of dispatches from our government to the American minister in France, and remained in Paris nearly four months, during which he was presented to the Emperor Napoleon, and attended all the parties given at the Tuileries.
Lieutenant Biddle had but recently returned from France, when the war was declared between the United States and Great Britain. He at once availed himself of the first chance of service, and accordingly volunteered his services to Commodore Rodgers, who had command of the frigate President, but unfortunately the number of officers was complete before he made application. But his disappointment was soon relieved by the arrival of the sloop-of-war Wasp, Captain Jones, with dispatches from France; this vessel had not her full complement of officers, and Lieutenant Biddle immediately procured an order to join her as first lieutenant.
The Wasp went to sea on the 13th of October, 1812, and on the 18th fell in with six sail of the line of British merchant vessels under convoy of the Frolic sloop-of-war. An attack was made, and a heavy fire of cannon and musketry opened upon them, which was quickly returned by the Wasp without interruption. Amidst this severe contest the two vessels struck each other with a tremendous crash, the jib-boom of the Frolic coming between the main and mizzen rigging of the Wasp, directly over the heads of Captain Jones and Lieutenant Biddle; this position gave the Wasp an opportunity of sweeping the deck of the Frolic, which was done by two guns of the Wasp. Lieutenant Biddle jumped on the bowsprit and boarded her, and to his surprise found that the only persons on deck were the commander and two other officers, and a seaman at the wheel. Upon seeing Lieutenant Biddle, these officers threw down their swords and surrendered, and, as their colors were still flying, he hauled them down himself, and took possession of the Frolic in forty-three minutes after the first fire. Soon after the action Biddle was ordered by Captain Jones to make his way with the prize to a southern port of the United States, but he had not proceeded far when a large ship hove in sight, to windward, which proved to be the Poictiers, a British seventy-four, and as the Frolic was totally dismasted, and the Wasp so disabled in her rigging and sails as to be incapable of escaping immediately, both vessels were taken by the Poictiers. Captain Jones and his officers were carried to Bermuda, and after a short detention there, were released upon their parole, and returned to the United States. The very efficient part borne by Lieutenant Biddle in this memorable action, is related in the following extract from the official letter of Captain Jones. “Lieutenant Biddle’s active conduct contributed much to our success, by the exact attention paid to every department during the engagement, and the animating example he afforded the crew by his intrepidity.”
The legislature of Pennsylvania voted Lieutenant Biddle a sword, and a testimonial still more grateful to his feelings was offered to him by a number of highly respectable gentlemen of Philadelphia, in a letter addressed to him, of which the following is an extract:—“Whilst your country confers upon you those distinguished marks of approbation which are ever due to merit and valor, a number of the personal friends and companions of your youth are desirous of attesting to you their esteem, and of perpetuating the remembrance of your private worth. With this view they have directed us, as their committee, to present to you in their name, a silver urn, bearing upon it an appropriate inscription, and a representation of the action between the Wasp and the Frolic, in which you so conspicuously assisted to exalt the naval character of our country.”