Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Biddle, Nicholas, 1750-

Naval officer; born in Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 10, 1750; made

Medal presented to James Biddle by Congress.

a voyage to Quebec before he was fourteen years of age. In a voyage to the West Indies he was cast away on an uninhabited island, where he remained two months. He entered the British navy in 1770. While a midshipman, he absconded, and became a sailor before the mast in the Carcass, in the exploring expedition of Captain Phipps in which Horatio Nelson served. Returning to Philadelphia after the commencement of the Revolution, he was appointed to the command of the brig Andrea Doria, under Commodore Hopkins. In 1776 he captured two transports from Scotland, with 400 Highland troops bound for America. In February, 1777, he sailed from Philadelphia in the frigate Randolph, and soon carried four valuable prizes into Charleston. Then he cruised in the West India waters with a small squadron; and in an action with a British 64-gun ship, March 7, 1778, was wounded. A few minutes afterwards the Randolph was blown up: and of the entire crew, consisting of 315 men, only four escaped to tell the dreadful tale.