Alexander Biddle
Encyclopedia
Alexander Biddle was an officer in the Union Army
during the American Civil 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.
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
.
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
) and the Battle of Bristoe Station
.
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
and the Lehigh Navigation Company among others, and as executor of the estate of James Rush (1786–1869), was instrumental in the erection of the Ridgway Library (part of the Library Company of Philadelphia
).
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:
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Life
His father was Thomas A. Biddle (1776–1857), the son of American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
soldier Clement Biddle
Clement Biddle
Colonel Clement Biddle was an American Revolutionary War soldier.- Life :Biddle was born May 10, 1740 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to John Biddle and Sarah Owen . He was the younger brother of Owen Biddle, Sr...
(1740–1814).
His mother was the former Christine Williams (1780–1861).
Their fourth child, he was educated in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, enrolling at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1834 and graduating in 1838. In 1842, he joined his father's company, where he worked until the beginning of the Civil War.
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
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Rush was a Founding Father of the United States. Rush lived in the state of Pennsylvania and was a physician, writer, educator, humanitarian and a Christian Universalist, as well as the founder of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania....
.
On September 1, 1862, he joined the 121st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, serving under his cousin Chapman Biddle
Chapman Biddle
Chapman Biddle was a member of the prominent Biddle family of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who rose to fame as an officer in the Union Army in the American Civil War. He commanded a brigade of infantry at the Battle of Gettysburg.-Early life:Chapman Biddle was born in Pennsylvania on January 22,...
, with whom he fought at the Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
, the Battle of Chancellorsville
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War, and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. It was fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville. Two related battles were fought nearby on...
, the Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
(under Abner Doubleday
Abner Doubleday
Abner Doubleday was a career United States Army officer and Union general in the American Civil War. He fired the first shot in defense of Fort Sumter, the opening battle of the war, and had a pivotal role in the early fighting at the Battle of Gettysburg. Gettysburg was his finest hour, but his...
) and the Battle of Bristoe Station
Battle of Bristoe Station
The Battle of Bristoe Station was fought on October 14, 1863, at Bristoe Station, Virginia, between Union forces under Maj. Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren and Confederate forces under Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill during the Bristoe Campaign of the American Civil War...
.
After the war he retired from Thomas Biddle & Company, and in 1874 he was named a director of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
. He also served as a director for the Philadelphia Savings Fund Company
Philadelphia Savings Fund Society
The Philadelphia Savings Fund Society , originally called the Philadelphia Saving Fund Society, was a savings bank headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. PSFS was founded in December 1816, becoming the first savings bank to organize and do business in the United States...
and the Lehigh Navigation Company among others, and as executor of the estate of James Rush (1786–1869), was instrumental in the erection of the Ridgway Library (part of the Library Company of Philadelphia
Library Company of Philadelphia
The Library Company of Philadelphia is a non-profit organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded by Benjamin Franklin as a library, the Library Company of Philadelphia has accumulated one of the most significant collections of historically valuable manuscripts and printed material in...
).
His name is inscribed on the 121st Pennsylvania's monument along South Reynolds Avenue in the Gettysburg National Military Park
Gettysburg National Military Park
The Gettysburg National Military Park is an administrative unit of the National Park Service's northeast region and a subunit of federal properties of Adams County, Pennsylvania, with the same name, including the Gettysburg National Cemetery...
.
He and his wife had seven children:
- Alexander Williams Biddle was born July 4, 1856, married Anne McKennan on 1879, had five children, and died on September 16, 1916.
- 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.
- James Wilmer Biddle was born November 22, 1861, married first Cora Rowland, then Elizabeth Southall Clarke, and died November 22, 1927.
- Louis Alexander Biddle was born March 12, 1863, married Rene H. A. Docobu and died in Vichy, France during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
on October 1, 1940. - Mariamne Biddle was born November 8, 1866 and died March 4, 1917.
- Lynford Biddle was born August 26, 1871 and died January 24, 1941.