Nicholas Biddle (naval officer)

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Nicholas Biddle
Captain Nicholas Biddle by Orlando S. Lagman
Born	September 10, 1750 Philadelphia
Died	March 7, 1778(1778-03-07) (aged 27) Atlantic Ocean
Allegiance	Great Britain  United States
Service/branch	Royal Navy Continental Navy
Years of service	1770–1773 (GB) 1775–1778 (US)
Rank	Midshipman (GB) Captain (US)
Commands held	USS Randolph
Battles/wars	American Revolutionary War Battle of Nassau Battle of Block Island Battle of Barbados †

Nicholas Biddle (September 10, 1750 – March 7, 1778) was one of the first five captains of the Continental Navy, which was raised by the Continental Congress during the American Revolutionary War. Biddle was born in Philadelphia in 1750. He began sailing at the age of 13 and joined the Royal Navy when he was 20. In 1773, he sailed the Arctic with Constantine Phipps and Horatio Nelson. When the Revolutionary War began in 1775, Biddle joined the Continental Navy and commanded several ships. In 1778 off the coast of Barbados, Biddle confronted HMS Yarmouth, a 64-gun British warship. After a twenty-minute battle, Biddle's ship Randolph suddenly exploded, killing him and most of his men. Four ships of the U.S. Navy have been named in his honor.