Early Life and Military Career
Biddle was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1792, the son of Charles Biddle, former Vice President of Pennsylvania, and nephew of Commodore Nicholas Biddle. He attended the common schools before entering and graduating from Princeton College. At the outbreak of the War of 1812, Biddle enlisted in the U.S. Army and was appointed a second lieutenant in the Third Artillery on July 6, 1812 and promoted to first lieutenant March 13, 1813. He was attached to the staff of General Winfield Scott on the Niagara Frontier for most of the war. He became captain in the Forty-second Infantry October 1, 1813, served as assistant inspector general with the rank of major from June 19, 1817 to June 1, 1821, and commanded Fort Shelby in Detroit for some time.
After leaving the military, Biddle was appointed paymaster and Indian agent at Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1821 and 1822. He was register of the land at Detroit, Michigan in of Michigan Territory, 1823–1837; commissioner for determining the ancient land claims at Detroit, Mackinaw, Sault Ste. Marie, Green Bay, and Prairie du Chien.
He married Eliza Falconer Bradish (1795–1865) of New York. The couple had four children that lived to adulthood: Margaretta Falconer Biddle (1825–1913), William Shepard Biddle (1830–1901), Major James Biddle (1833–1905) and Edward John Biddle (1836–1892).
Read more about this topic: John Biddle (Michigan Politician)
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