Everything about James Biddle totally explained
James Biddle (
February 18,
1783 -
October 1,
1848), of the
Biddle family, brother of financier
Nicholas Biddle and nephew of
Captain Nicholas Biddle was an
American commodore. His
flagship was
USS Columbus.
Education and early career
He was born in
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, where he attended the
University of Pennsylvania. After graduating, he entered service in the
United States Navy as a
midshipman in 1800.
Retained in the navy reduction of
1801, Biddle served in the
war against the Barbary pirates. The ship he was in,
USS Philadelphia, struck rocks off
Tripoli, and along with his Commodore,
William Bainbridge, he was kept imprisoned by the pirates for 19 months.
During the
War of 1812, Biddle was
first lieutenant in
USS Wasp. After this, he was in command of the
sloop USS Hornet when she defeated
HMS Penguin. Later, in 1817, he was sent to the
Columbia River to formally take over the
Oregon Country for the United States, which was completed in 1818.
After the war, Biddle performed various duties in the
Gulf of Mexico, the
South Atlantic and the
Mediterranean. In 1830, Biddle and US consul
David Offly negotiated and concluded a treaty with the
Sublime Porte. The treaty was later used by US diplomats to claim extraterritorial privileges for US citizens in the
Ottoman Empire.
Expeditions to Asia
In December 1845, Biddle exchanged ratifications of the
Treaty of Wanghia at Poon Tong (泮塘), a village outside
Guangzhou. The treaty was the first treaty between
China and the United States.
On
July 20 1846, he anchored with the two warships
USS Columbus and
USS Vincennes in
Uraga Channel at the mouth to
Tokyo Bay in an attempt to open up
Japan to trade with the United States, but was ultimately unsuccessful. Biddle delivered his request that Japan agree to a similar treaty to that which he'd just negotiated with China. A few days later a Japanese junk approached Biddle's flagship and requested his presence on board their ship to receive the Tokugawa shogunate's official response. Biddle at first demurred but eventually agreed. As Biddle attempted to board the Japanese ship he misunderstood the instructions of one of the samurai guards and was physically knocked back by the guard who then drew his sword. Biddle retreated to his flagship. The Japanese officials apologized for the mishap. Biddle eventually received the shogunate's response and was told that Japan forbade all commerce and communication with foreign nations besides that of the Dutch; also, he was informed that all foreign affairs were conducted through Nagasaki and that his ships should leave Uraga immediately.
Seven years later, Commodore
Matthew Perry did the task with four warships. Perry was well aware of Biddle's reception and strove to make sure that he wouldn't be treated in the same manner.
Biddle died in Philadelphia and is buried at
Christ Church Burial Ground in the family plot.
Further Information
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