Revolutionary War Continental Naval Officer. The nine child of William Biddle III and Mary Scull Biddle, he joined the British Navy in 1770. When the Revolutionary War started, he wholeheartedly supported the Patriot cause, and joined the nascent Continental Navy. Given command of the 14 gun brig "Andrew Doria", he participated in Captain Esek Hopkins naval assault on New Providence in the Bahama Islands. He later commanded his vessel off the Newfoundland, Canada coast, where he captured a number of British merchant and transport vessels. In February 1777 he was assigned to command the 32 gun frigate "Randolph". In March 1778 his ship became engaged with the 64 gun British warship "HMS Yarmouth". He was wounded in the engagement, and was being treated by the ship's surgeon when the Randolph's magazine exploded, killing the entire crew save 4 men.
Revolutionary War Continental Naval Officer. The nine child of William Biddle III and Mary Scull Biddle, he joined the British Navy in 1770. When the Revolutionary War started, he wholeheartedly supported the Patriot cause, and joined the nascent Continental Navy. Given command of the 14 gun brig "Andrew Doria", he participated in Captain Esek Hopkins naval assault on New Providence in the Bahama Islands. He later commanded his vessel off the Newfoundland, Canada coast, where he captured a number of British merchant and transport vessels. In February 1777 he was assigned to command the 32 gun frigate "Randolph". In March 1778 his ship became engaged with the 64 gun British warship "HMS Yarmouth". He was wounded in the engagement, and was being treated by the ship's surgeon when the Randolph's magazine exploded, killing the entire crew save 4 men.
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