James Biddle, the subject of this memoir, is the son of the late Charles Biddle, Esquire, of Philadelphia, and was born in that city on the 18th of February, 1783. He was educated in the University of Pennsylvania, where he acquired a taste for literature, which, in the intervals of professional duty, has been most assiduously cultivated.

In the year 1800, the American navy offered the most flattering prospects to the aspiring youth of our country. Its fame acquired by the war with France was rapidly increasing. The brilliant success of Captain Truxtun, in his victory with the French frigates Insurgente and Vengeance, gave additional eclat to the navy.

To this distinguished commander, Mr. Biddle entrusted the care of his two sons, James and Edward, who, on obtaining midshipmen’s warrants, were attached to the frigate President, fitting for the West Indies. The cessation of hostilities with France brought the frigate again to the United States after a much shorter cruise than was intended, but which was rendered memorable by the melancholy death of Mr. Edward Biddle, who died at sea of a fever after an illness of a few days. Early in 1802, James Biddle sailed to the Mediterranean, in the frigate Constellation, Captain Murray, to protect American commerce against Tripolitan cruisers. This gave our young officer valuable opportunities of renewing his acquaintance with classic writers, and remains of antiquity, obtained by him during his studies at the University, and which were to him an additional fund of instruction and gratification. The Constellation returned home in 1803, and Mr. Biddle was transferred to the frigate Philadelphia, Captain Bainbridge, and returned again to the Mediterranean, where this unfortunate ship struck upon a rock, and was lost.

When all efforts to get the Philadelphia afloat were found to be unavailing, Lieutenant Porter and Midshipman Biddle were dispatched to the commander to inform him of the accident. As they approached the Tripolitan gun-boats, they were fired upon and ordered to surrender. Porter and Biddle were prepared to deliver up their swords, but this ceremony was dispensed with by the savage Tripolitans; twenty of whom, of the most ferocious appearance, armed with sabres, pistols, and muskets, jumped into the boat, and at once commenced their work of insult and plunder. Two of them snatched Biddle’s sword, pulled off his coat, and began to fight for it, when, to decide their dispute, they returned it to him.

His cravat was violently torn from his neck, his waistcoat and shirt torn open, in search for valuables that might be concealed about his person. They searched all his pockets, and took all his papers and money, except twenty dollars in gold, which he had slipped into his boot and thereby secured. The officers and crew were then carried on shore, conducted amidst the shouts and acclamations of a barbarous rabble to the palace gates, and ushered into the presence of the bashaw, who, seated in state, received them in the audience chamber; and after asking a variety of questions about the American squadron, they were conducted to the place assigned for safe keeping.

There is no subject which the imagination can present to us more full of horror than that of slavery among the barbarians of Africa. In this situation, ignorant of the fate of their companions, and doubtful of their own, they continued nineteen months in close and rigorous confinement, in want of pure air, exercise, and employment, with occasional threats by the bashaw of his vengeance; circumstances calculated to impair the health and break the spirits of the strongest and most resolute. Yet happily they preserved their health and their spirits unbroken.

They considered it a point of honor to be firm and cheerful, to disregard the threats of the barbarians, and to sustain by an unconquerable fortitude the character of their country. In consequence of the peace with Tripoli, in the month of September, 1805, they were liberated, and Captain Bainbridge and Midshipman Biddle, who had not separated since the loss of the frigate, returned together to Philadelphia. Upon the release of Mr. Biddle, he was promoted to a lieutenancy, and after remaining at home but a few weeks, he was ordered to the command of one of the gun-boats, then lying at Charleston, South Carolina, but finding this service both inactive and irksome, he obtained an appointment as second lieutenant in the frigate President, under the command of his friend Captain Bainbridge. In this, and other similar situations, he had opportunities to display a character of firmness and decision, jealous of personal honor, and aspiring to deeds of enterprise and of fame. In 1811 he sailed as bearer of dispatches from our government to the American minister in France, and remained in Paris nearly four months, during which he was presented to the Emperor Napoleon, and attended all the parties given at the Tuileries.

Lieutenant Biddle had but recently returned from France, when the war was declared between the United States and Great Britain. He at once availed himself of the first chance of service, and accordingly volunteered his services to Commodore Rodgers, who had command of the frigate President, but unfortunately the number of officers was complete before he made application. But his disappointment was soon relieved by the arrival of the sloop-of-war Wasp, Captain Jones, with dispatches from France; this vessel had not her full complement of officers, and Lieutenant Biddle immediately procured an order to join her as first lieutenant.

The Wasp went to sea on the 13th of October, 1812, and on the 18th fell in with six sail of the line of British merchant vessels under convoy of the Frolic sloop-of-war. An attack was made, and a heavy fire of cannon and musketry opened upon them, which was quickly returned by the Wasp without interruption. Amidst this severe contest the two vessels struck each other with a tremendous crash, the jib-boom of the Frolic coming between the main and mizzen rigging of the Wasp, directly over the heads of Captain Jones and Lieutenant Biddle; this position gave the Wasp an opportunity of sweeping the deck of the Frolic, which was done by two guns of the Wasp. Lieutenant Biddle jumped on the bowsprit and boarded her, and to his surprise found that the only persons on deck were the commander and two other officers, and a seaman at the wheel. Upon seeing Lieutenant Biddle, these officers threw down their swords and surrendered, and, as their colors were still flying, he hauled them down himself, and took possession of the Frolic in forty-three minutes after the first fire. Soon after the action Biddle was ordered by Captain Jones to make his way with the prize to a southern port of the United States, but he had not proceeded far when a large ship hove in sight, to windward, which proved to be the Poictiers, a British seventy-four, and as the Frolic was totally dismasted, and the Wasp so disabled in her rigging and sails as to be incapable of escaping immediately, both vessels were taken by the Poictiers. Captain Jones and his officers were carried to Bermuda, and after a short detention there, were released upon their parole, and returned to the United States. The very efficient part borne by Lieutenant Biddle in this memorable action, is related in the following extract from the official letter of Captain Jones. “Lieutenant Biddle’s active conduct contributed much to our success, by the exact attention paid to every department during the engagement, and the animating example he afforded the crew by his intrepidity.”

The legislature of Pennsylvania voted Lieutenant Biddle a sword, and a testimonial still more grateful to his feelings was offered to him by a number of highly respectable gentlemen of Philadelphia, in a letter addressed to him, of which the following is an extract:—“Whilst your country confers upon you those distinguished marks of approbation which are ever due to merit and valor, a number of the personal friends and companions of your youth are desirous of attesting to you their esteem, and of perpetuating the remembrance of your private worth. With this view they have directed us, as their committee, to present to you in their name, a silver urn, bearing upon it an appropriate inscription, and a representation of the action between the Wasp and the Frolic, in which you so conspicuously assisted to exalt the naval character of our country.”

Shortly after, Lieutenant Biddle was promoted to the rank of master-commandant, and received command of the Hornet sloop-of-war. This ship, after cruising for some time in the vicinity of New York and New London, was attached to the command of Commodore Decatur, destined for a cruise to the East Indies.

On the third day after the sailing of this squadron, the Hornet separated in chase of a vessel which proved to be a Portuguese brig, and then proceeded singly towards the Island of Tristan d’Acunha, which was the first place of rendezvous for the squadron. On the passage she chased and boarded every vessel that came in sight. On the morning of the 23d of March, 1815, when about to anchor off the north end of that island, a sail was descried to the southward and eastward. The Hornet made sail immediately, and hove to for her to come down. When she had come down and shortened sail, she took in her steering sails in a very clumsy manner, purposely to deceive the Hornet, and came down stem on as near as possible, lest the Hornet should perceive her broadside and run. “At forty minutes past one, P. M.,” says Captain Biddle’s official letter, “being nearly within musket-shot distance, she hauled her wind on the starboard tack, hoisted English colors and fired a gun. We immediately luffed to, hoisted our ensign, and gave the enemy a broadside. The action being thus commenced, a quick and well-directed fire was kept up from this ship, the enemy gradually drifting nearer to us, when at fifty-five minutes past one he bore up apparently to run us on board. Expecting he would certainly board us, I ordered every officer and man to the quarter-deck, to be ready to repel the boarders if an attempt was made. The enemy’s bowsprit came between our main and mizzen rigging on our starboard side, affording him an opportunity to board us, if such was his design; but no attempt was made. There was a considerable swell, and as the sea lifted us ahead, the enemy’s bowsprit carried away our mizzen shrouds, stern-davits and spanker-boom, and he hung upon our larboard quarter. At this moment an officer, who was afterwards recognized to be Mr. McDonald, the first lieutenant and the then commanding officer, called out that they had surrendered. I directed the marines and musketry men to cease firing, and while on the tafferel, asking if they had surrendered, I received a wound in the neck. The enemy again called out that he had surrendered. It was with difficulty I could restrain my crew from firing into him again, as they persisted he had fired into us after having surrendered. From the firing of the first gun to the last time the enemy cried out he had surrendered, was exactly twenty-two minutes by the watch. She proved to be his Britannic majesty’s brig Penguin, mounting sixteen thirty-two pound carronades, two long twelves, a twelve pound carronade on the top-gallant forecastle, with swivels on the capstan and in the tops. She had a spare port forward so as to fight both her long guns of a side. The enemy acknowledge a complement of one hundred and thirty-two men, twelve of them supernumerary marines, from the Medway seventy-four. They acknowledge also a loss of fourteen killed and twenty-eight wounded; but Mr. Mayo, who was in charge of the prize, assures me that the number of killed was certainly greater.” Among the killed of the Penguin, was Captain Dickinson, her commander, who is represented to have been a deserving and favorite officer. The Hornet had but one man killed and eleven wounded. Among the wounded were Captain Biddle severely, and McConner, the first lieutenant, dangerously. It is always gratifying to notice the attachment of our brave tars to their commanders. Captain Biddle had his face much disfigured by being struck twice with splinters, and, when he received the wound in the neck, from which the blood flowed profusely, some of the crew insisted upon his retiring below for the purpose of having it dressed, two of whom seized him in their arms for that purpose, so that he could scarcely extricate himself from them; but finding he was determined to remain on the deck, one of them stript off his shirt, tore it into strips, and almost by force tied it tightly about Captain Biddle’s neck to prevent his bleeding. Captain Biddle would not have his own wound dressed until after all his men had theirs dressed.

Captain Biddle received his wound in the neck after the enemy had surrendered. He was standing upon the tafferel, and had ordered the musketry not to fire, when one of his officers called out to him that there was a man taking aim at him. Captain Biddle’s back being towards the officer, he did not hear this, but two of the marines perceiving the fellow taking aim at their commander, fired at him, and he fell dead the instant after he had discharged his piece. He was not more than ten or twelve yards from Captain Biddle when he shot him; the ball struck the chin directly in front with much force, and passing along the neck, tearing the flesh, went off behind through his cravat, waistcoat and coat collar. The Penguin being so completely riddled, her fore-mast and bowsprit gone, and her main-mast so crippled as to be incapable of being secured, she was accordingly scuttled and destroyed. Shortly after, peace with Great Britain was restored, and Captain Biddle returned to New York, much indisposed and debilitated by his wound. During his absence he had been promoted to the rank of post-captain. On his return, a public dinner was given to him by the citizens of New York, and a service of plate presented to him by the citizens of Philadelphia. It has been the distinguishing character of this gentleman, to exert in the public service an unwearied activity and an ardent enterprise, which surmounted every obstacle and commanded the events of his life. He was a party to two of the most decisive actions of the war, in which his persevering spirit led him forward in spite of every untoward event in the path of glory, and crowned his exertions with success. The capture of the Frolic by the Wasp, not only broke the charm of British naval superiority, but showed a decided superiority in favor of America. The capture of the Penguin was not less decisive; and if, at the commencement of the war, the British navy was surprised, from habits of security and contempt for their enemies, they had, before the victory of the Hornet, learned their error and corrected their conduct. In this instance, even the enemy was utterly unable to frame an apology for his defeat, since he had come out prepared, and with unusual means to pursue and capture an American ship-of-war. Congress voted a gold medal (see Plate XIV.) and the thanks of that body to Captain James Biddle, commander of the sloop-of-war Hornet, for the capture of the brig Penguin, Captain Dickinson, in twenty-two minutes, March 23, 1815.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MEDAL.

Occasion.—Capture of the brig Penguin.

Device.—Bust of Captain Biddle.

Legend.—The Congress of the U. S. to Capt. James Biddle for his gallantry, good conduct and services.

Reverse.—Two vessels engaged: the Peak of Tristan d’Acunha in sight.

Legend.—Capture of the British brig Penguin by the U. S. ship Hornet.

Exergue.—Off Tristan d’Acunha, March 23d, 1815.

THE END.