Nicholas Biddle
Nicholas Biddle was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1750. He became a seaman when he was 14 years of age and gave great promise of becoming one of the noblest sons of the main. He and his shipmates were cast away on a barren island on the 2nd of January 1766, with two remaining there with him for nearly two months in extreme suffering. In 1773, he and Horatio-afterward Lord Nelson, doffed their uniforms and shipped before the mast on board the Carcase bound on a voyage to the north pole and penetrated to 81o 39' north latitude.At the commencement of the American Revolution, Capt Biddle commanded the Camden galley on the Delaware. He was subsequently transferred to the Andrew Dorin of 14 guns with 130 men and attached to the infant fleet of Commodore Hopkins, destined for the Island of New Providence. On arriving at the capes, the smallpox became general among the other crews-disease obliged the fleet to run into New London.
After replenishing his numbers, Capt. Biddle has the order to cruise off the banks of Newfoundland, where he was so successful in capturing British ships that when he arrived in Delaware, he had but five of his original crew, the others having been put on board the prizes.
On his return, he was placed in command of the frigate Randolph of 32 guns and sailed from Philadelphia in February 1777 with a crew partly made up of English seamen. Shortly after he got to sea, a gale carried away nearly all the masts of his frigate. He then steered for Charleston to repair. On the way, Mother Britain's children planned to dispatch the Americans and take the ship. However, they were shipped upon their urgent solicitation professing to sustain the cause of Independence. They were promptly put down and sullenly returned to duty. When thoroughly repaired, he again put out to sea. On the third day, he fell in with four English vessels, one the True Briton with 20 guns, all of which he captured. He took several other prizes and returned to Charleston. So highly did the citizens of that city esteem Capt. Biddle as an officer and gentleman that they fitted out the ship General Moultrie-the brigs Fair American, Polly, and Notre Dame and placed on board the Randolph fifty men from the first regiment of the South Carolina infantry to act as marines-the whole of which were under the command of Capt. Biddle. His little fleet continued cruising and capturing prizes until the night of the 7th of March 1778 when it came in contact with the English two-decker ship Yarmouth of 64 guns, Capt. Vincent. At 8 p.m., a severe action commenced. Capt. Biddle was severely wounded in the thigh but continued on deck, encouraging his brave tars. His fire was continuous-at least three broadsides to that of one from the enemy. In 20 minutes after the commencement of the fight, the Randolph blew up.