Background
Biddle, James was born on February 18, 1783 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Charles and Hannah (Shepard) Biddle.
Biddle, James was born on February 18, 1783 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of Charles and Hannah (Shepard) Biddle.
In 1817, he was sent to the Columbia River in the United States Ship Ontario to formally take over the Oregon Country for the United States, which was completed in 1818.
His flagship was United States Ship Columbus. 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, United States Ship 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 United States Ship Wasp. He was in command of the sloop United States Ship Hornet in 1815 when she defeated HMS Penguin.
After the war, Biddle performed various duties in the Gulf of Mexico, the South Atlantic and the Mediterranean. In 1830, Biddle and United States consul David Offly negotiated and concluded a treaty with the Sublime Porte.
The treaty was later used by United States diplomats to claim extraterritorial privileges for United States citizens in the Ottoman Empire.
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 United States Ship Columbus and United States Ship Vincennes in Uraga Channel at the mouth to Edo 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 had just been 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 would not be treated in the same manner.
Biddle died in Philadelphia and is buried at Christ Church Burial Ground in the family plot.