Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Jump to content

Alexander Biddle: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
added category
 
(45 intermediate revisions by 14 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|American businessman and army officer}}
'''Alexander Biddle''' (April 29, 1819 – May 2, 1899) was an officer in the [[Union Army]] during the [[American Civil War]].
[[File:History of the 121st regiment Pennsylvania volunteers. "An account from the ranks." (1906) (14762766511).jpg|thumb|Colonel Alexander Biddle]]
'''Alexander Williams Biddle''' (April 29, 1819 – May 2, 1899) was an American businessman from Pennsylvania. He was a member of the prominent and wealthy [[Biddle family]] and the grandson of [[American Revolutionary War]] soldier [[Clement Biddle]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Alexander Biddle family papers |url=http://archives.dickinson.edu/collection-descriptions/alexander-biddle-family-papers |access-date=24 July 2020 |website=www.archives.dickinson.edu}}</ref> He served as an officer in the [[Union Army]] during the [[American Civil War]] and fought in some of the key battles of the war.


==Early life and education==
==Life==
Biddle was born on April 29, 1819, in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], to Thomas A. and Christine Williams Biddle.<ref name="udel2">{{cite web |title=Biddle family papers |url=http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/findaids/biddle.htm |access-date=March 23, 2011 |publisher=University of Delaware Library}}</ref>
His father was Thomas A. Biddle (1776–1857), the son of [[American Revolutionary War]] soldier [[Clement Biddle]] (1740–1814).
His mother was the former Christine Williams (1780–1861).
Their fourth child, he was educated in [[Pennsylvania]], enrolling at the [[University of Pennsylvania]] in 1834 and graduating in 1838. In 1842, he joined his father's company, where he worked until the beginning of the Civil War.<ref name="udel">{{cite web |title= Biddle family papers |publisher= University of Delaware Library |url = http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/findaids/biddle.htm |accessdate = March 23, 2011 }}</ref>


He received his early education from the school of [[Sears C. Walker]] in Philadelphia. He entered the [[University of Pennsylvania]] in 1834 and graduated in 1838. After graduation, he worked for the Bevan and Humphreys shipping firm in Philadelphia until 1842.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Scharf |first1=J. Thomas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8uYkAAAAYAAJ&dq=alexander+biddle&pg=PA1949 |title=History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884 |date=1884 |publisher=L.H. Everts & Co. |location=Philadelphia |page=1949 |access-date=30 July 2020}}</ref> In 1848, he joined his father's company, Thomas Biddle & Co., where he worked until the beginning of the Civil War.<ref name="udel2">{{cite web |title=Biddle family papers |url=http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/findaids/biddle.htm |access-date=March 23, 2011 |publisher=University of Delaware Library}}</ref>
⚫
In 1849, he joined the first troop of the Philadelphia City Cavalry in which he served until 1858. In 1855 he married Julia Williams Rush (1833–1898) daughter of Samuel Rush (1795–1859) and granddaughter of [[Benjamin Rush]].<ref name="penn">{{cite web |title= Biddle Family Papers |author= Meghan Vacca |date= June 2006 |publisher= [[Historical Society of Pennsylvania]] |url= http://www.hsp.org/files/findingaid1792biddle.pdf |accessdate= March 23, 2011 | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110329225732/http://www.hsp.org/files/findingaid1792biddle.pdf| archivedate= 29 March 2011 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>
⚫
On September 1, 1862, he joined the 121st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, serving under his cousin [[Chapman Biddle]], with whom he fought at the [[Battle of Fredericksburg]], the [[Battle of Chancellorsville]], the [[Battle of Gettysburg]] (under [[Abner Doubleday]])<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.gdg.org/Research/OOB/Union/gburg_un.html |title = Union Order of Battle: Army of the Potomac |author= Kerry Webb |date= June 1997 |publisher= Gettysburg Discussion Group |accessdate = March 23, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title = Union Order of Battle: Army of the Potomac |author= John Heiser |publisher=National Park Service |url = http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/getttour/aporg.htm |accessdate = March 23, 2011}}</ref> and the [[Battle of Bristoe Station]].


==Civil war==
After the war he retired from Thomas Biddle & Company, and in 1874 he was named a director of the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]]. He also served as a director for the [[Philadelphia Savings Fund Society|Philadelphia Savings Fund Company]] and the Lehigh Navigation Company among others, and as executor of the estate of James Rush (1786–1869),<!-- wife's uncle --> was instrumental in the erection of the Ridgway Library (part of the [[Library Company of Philadelphia]]).<ref name="udel"/>
In 1849, he joined the first troop of the Philadelphia City Cavalry, in which he served until 1858.

⚫
On September 1, 1862, he joined the [[121st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment|121st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry]] and served under his cousin, [[Chapman Biddle]]. He served successively as a major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel.<ref name="Jordan2">{{cite book |last1=Jordan |first1=John W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=arAfWBsvO1gC&q=alexander+williams+biddle&pg=PA184 |title=Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania |date=1978 |publisher=Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc. |isbn=0-8063-0811-7 |location=Baltimore, Maryland |page=184 |access-date=24 July 2020}}</ref> He fought at the [[Battle of Fredericksburg]], the [[Battle of Chancellorsville]], the [[Battle of Gettysburg]] (under [[Abner Doubleday]])<ref>{{cite web |author=Kerry Webb |date=June 1997 |title=Union Order of Battle: Army of the Potomac |url=http://www.gdg.org/Research/OOB/Union/gburg_un.html |access-date=March 23, 2011 |publisher=Gettysburg Discussion Group}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=John Heiser |title=Union Order of Battle: Army of the Potomac |url=http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/getttour/aporg.htm |access-date=March 23, 2011 |publisher=National Park Service}}</ref> and the [[Battle of Bristoe Station]].


His name is inscribed on the 121st Pennsylvania's monument along South Reynolds Avenue in the [[Gettysburg National Military Park]].
His name is inscribed on the 121st Pennsylvania's monument along South Reynolds Avenue in the [[Gettysburg National Military Park]].

He and his wife had seven children:<ref name="penn"/>
==Business career==
# Alexander Williams Biddle was born July 4, 1856, married Anne McKennan on 1879, had five children, and died on September 16, 1916.
After the war, he retired from Thomas Biddle & Company, and in 1874, he was named a director of the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]]. He also served as a director for the [[Philadelphia Savings Fund Society|Philadelphia Savings Fund Company]], the Pennsylvania Company for Insurance on Lives and Granting Annuities, the Lehigh Navigation Company, and the Contributionship Insurance Company.<ref name="udel3">{{cite web |title=Biddle family papers |url=http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/findaids/biddle.htm |access-date=March 23, 2011 |publisher=University of Delaware Library}}</ref> He served as president of the Board of City Trusts and as a member of the board of managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital.<ref name="Jordan3">{{cite book |last1=Jordan |first1=John W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=arAfWBsvO1gC&q=alexander+williams+biddle&pg=PA184 |title=Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania |date=1978 |publisher=Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc. |isbn=0-8063-0811-7 |location=Baltimore, Maryland |page=184 |access-date=24 July 2020}}</ref> He was an executor of the estate of James Rush (1786–1869) and was instrumental in the construction of the Ridgway Library (part of the [[Library Company of Philadelphia]]).<ref name="udel3">{{cite web |title=Biddle family papers |url=http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/findaids/biddle.htm |access-date=March 23, 2011 |publisher=University of Delaware Library}}</ref>
# Henry Rush Biddle was born March 15, 1858 and died January 2, 1877.

# Julia Rush Biddle was born July 25, 1859 and died February 24, 1885.
==Personal life==
# James Wilmer Biddle was born November 22, 1861, married first Cora Rowland, then Elizabeth Southall Clarke, and died November 22, 1927.
⚫
In 1855, he married Julia Williams Rush, the granddaughter of [[Benjamin Rush]], and together they had seven children.<ref name="penn2">{{cite web |author=Meghan Vacca |date=June 2006 |title=Biddle Family Papers |url=http://www.hsp.org/files/findingaid1792biddle.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110329225732/http://www.hsp.org/files/findingaid1792biddle.pdf |archive-date=29 March 2011 |access-date=March 23, 2011 |publisher=[[Historical Society of Pennsylvania]]}}</ref>
# Louis Alexander Biddle was born March 12, 1863, married Rene H. A. Docobu and died in [[Vichy, France]] during [[World War II]] on October 1, 1940.

# Mariamne Biddle was born November 8, 1866 and died March 4, 1917.
He was a member of the [[American Philosophical Society]], the [[Franklin Institute]], the [[Academy of Natural Sciences]], and the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution.<ref name="Jordan4">{{cite book |last1=Jordan |first1=John W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=arAfWBsvO1gC&q=alexander+williams+biddle&pg=PA184 |title=Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania |date=1978 |publisher=Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc. |isbn=0-8063-0811-7 |location=Baltimore, Maryland |page=184 |access-date=24 July 2020}}</ref>
# Lynford Biddle was born August 26, 1871 and died January 24, 1941.

He died on May 2, 1899, in Philadelphia and was interred at [[Laurel Hill Cemetery]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=7X97CKjWKLcC&dq=alexander+biddle+Laurel+Hill+Cemetery&pg=PA32 ''Colonels in Blue'']</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|United States Army|American Civil War}}
{{Portal|Biography|American Civil War}}
* [[Biddle family]]
* [[Biddle family]]


Line 29: Line 33:


==External links==
==External links==
*{{Find a Grave |21657 |Alexander Williams Biddle |accessdate= March 23, 2011}}
* {{Find a Grave |21657 |Alexander Williams Biddle |access-date= March 23, 2011}}
{{Gettysburg figures|state=collapsed}}
{{Gettysburg figures|state=collapsed}}


Line 37: Line 41:
[[Category:1819 births]]
[[Category:1819 births]]
[[Category:1899 deaths]]
[[Category:1899 deaths]]
[[Category:Union Army officers]]
[[Category:19th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Philadelphia]]
[[Category:American bankers]]
⚫
[[Category:University of Pennsylvania alumni]]
[[Category:Biddle family|Alexander]]
[[Category:Biddle family|Alexander]]
⚫
[[Category:Cornell family]]
[[Category:Burials at Laurel Hill Cemetery (Philadelphia)]]
[[Category:Burials at Laurel Hill Cemetery (Philadelphia)]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Philadelphia]]
⚫
[[Category:Cornell family]]
[[Category:Members of the American Philosophical Society]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania Railroad people]]
[[Category:People of Pennsylvania in the American Civil War]]
[[Category:Union army officers]]
⚫
[[Category:University of Pennsylvania alumni]]

Latest revision as of 22:20, 31 October 2024

Colonel Alexander Biddle

Alexander Williams Biddle (April 29, 1819 – May 2, 1899) was an American businessman from Pennsylvania. He was a member of the prominent and wealthy Biddle family and the grandson of American Revolutionary War soldier Clement Biddle.[1] He served as an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War and fought in some of the key battles of the war.

Early life and education

[edit]

Biddle was born on April 29, 1819, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Thomas A. and Christine Williams Biddle.[2]

He received his early education from the school of Sears C. Walker in Philadelphia. He entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1834 and graduated in 1838. After graduation, he worked for the Bevan and Humphreys shipping firm in Philadelphia until 1842.[3] In 1848, he joined his father's company, Thomas Biddle & Co., where he worked until the beginning of the Civil War.[2]

Civil war

[edit]

In 1849, he joined the first troop of the Philadelphia City Cavalry, in which he served until 1858.

On September 1, 1862, he joined the 121st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry and served under his cousin, Chapman Biddle. He served successively as a major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel.[4] He fought at the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Battle of Chancellorsville, the Battle of Gettysburg (under Abner Doubleday)[5][6] and the Battle of Bristoe Station.

His name is inscribed on the 121st Pennsylvania's monument along South Reynolds Avenue in the Gettysburg National Military Park.

Business career

[edit]

After the war, he retired from Thomas Biddle & Company, and in 1874, he was named a director of the Pennsylvania Railroad. He also served as a director for the Philadelphia Savings Fund Company, the Pennsylvania Company for Insurance on Lives and Granting Annuities, the Lehigh Navigation Company, and the Contributionship Insurance Company.[7] He served as president of the Board of City Trusts and as a member of the board of managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital.[8] He was an executor of the estate of James Rush (1786–1869) and was instrumental in the construction of the Ridgway Library (part of the Library Company of Philadelphia).[7]

Personal life

[edit]

In 1855, he married Julia Williams Rush, the granddaughter of Benjamin Rush, and together they had seven children.[9]

He was a member of the American Philosophical Society, the Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, and the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution.[10]

He died on May 2, 1899, in Philadelphia and was interred at Laurel Hill Cemetery.[11]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Alexander Biddle family papers". www.archives.dickinson.edu. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Biddle family papers". University of Delaware Library. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  3. ^ Scharf, J. Thomas (1884). History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884. Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co. p. 1949. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  4. ^ Jordan, John W. (1978). Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc. p. 184. ISBN 0-8063-0811-7. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  5. ^ Kerry Webb (June 1997). "Union Order of Battle: Army of the Potomac". Gettysburg Discussion Group. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  6. ^ John Heiser. "Union Order of Battle: Army of the Potomac". National Park Service. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  7. ^ a b "Biddle family papers". University of Delaware Library. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  8. ^ Jordan, John W. (1978). Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc. p. 184. ISBN 0-8063-0811-7. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  9. ^ Meghan Vacca (June 2006). "Biddle Family Papers" (PDF). Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 March 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  10. ^ Jordan, John W. (1978). Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc. p. 184. ISBN 0-8063-0811-7. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  11. ^ Colonels in Blue
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alexander_Biddle&oldid=1254625057"