Clement Biddle

Clement Biddle (1740-1814) served as a deputy Quartermaster, promoting to the rank of general in the American Revolution. With George Washington’s encouragement, he continued public service after the Revolution serving as the quartermaster general for the Pennsylvania militia before he was appointed as the head of the United States Marshals in 1789.

Early Life

Born in Philadelphia on May 10, 1740, Biddle was the child of Quakers John Biddle and Sarah Owen. Not much is known about his early years, as his family did not hold a prominent place in Quaker life in Pennsylvania. Biddle is not known to have completed any education past the primary level, but he was a prominent part of his father’s shipping business before the onset of the American Revolution.¹

Before the Revolution, Biddle organized one of the first fighting units of Quakers in the United States, known as the “Quaker Blues”. Despite the normal pacifist vows of the Quaker faith, the Blues, under Biddle’s leadership, carried out several successful campaigns before the start of the war. These included aiding Native Americans against the “Paxton Boys.” The “Paxton Boys” were vigilantes who attacked Native American towns in response to tensions around Pontiac’s Rebellion. Biddle’s involvement in the American Revolution began with the support of non-important in 1765.²

Service in the American Revolution

At the onset of hostilities, Biddle organized another regiment of Quakers. He was given the position of deputy Quartermaster of the 10,000 member “flying camp,” one of the earliest volunteer regiments of the war.³ As such, he engaged in the battles of Trenton, Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth. Eventually, Biddle was promoted to General under Washington’s command at Valley Forge, serving as the Commissary General. He assisted in procuring vital supplies.

Public Service After the American Revolution

Although Biddle was content to retire from active service in 1780, his former commander and friend desired he remain in public service.⁴  Through the later years of the war, Biddle served as quartermaster general for the Pennsylvania militia. Washington appointed Biddle to the head of the United States Marshals in 1789.

Biddle holds the distinction of being the first Marshal in Pennsylvania’s history.⁵ The job of Marshal, however, was not one that Biddle particular enjoyed. He was quick to beg off his duties because of bad health. In one case, he refused to arrest a pair of bandits at the behest of Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson due to a case of gout.⁶

Before the end of Washington’s term, he wrote the president, asking him to not re-appoint him to the post. In his letter, Biddle states that, “I determined, however, to contribute all in my power to the support of the Government of the United States….but I find that the Expense attending the Execution has been equal to or greater than the Endowments of the office and the hazard and Responsibility attending the same and so great that I cannot think myself justified in continuing to hold the Office.”⁷

Relationship with George Washington

Outside the bounds of governance, Washington and Biddle still carried on a friendly relationship of mutual respect. Their correspondence was often mundane, with this example of Washington requesting Biddle request in procuring a housekeeper an example: "The inclosed is to Edward (I do not know his Surname) who formerly lived with Mr R. Morris, but now, I am informed, keeps the City Tavern, to see if he can be instrumental in procuring me a House keeper. I beg you to be so obliging as to direct, deliver, and consult him on the contents of the letter, which is left open for your perusal, & return me an answr as soon as possible."⁸

A year prior, Washington wrote Biddle for assistance in locating a free person of color who married William, a person he enslaved who accompanied him throughout the war, “they are both applying to me to get her here, and tho’ I never wished to see her more, yet I cannot refuse his request (if it can be complied with on reasonable terms) as he has lived with me so long & followed my fortunes through the War with fidility.”⁹ The letter ends with Washington requesting that Biddle provide safe passage for the woman to the Washington.

Death and Legacy

While Biddle himself passed away on July 14, 1814, he left behind a legacy of 13 children, including his namesake, who would serve in the United States Army during the War of 1812 before rising to a prominent position as a banker in Philadelphia.¹⁰ However, it is his grandson of the same name that would honor the family’s place in history. A graduate of The University of Pennsylvania, the third Clement Biddle would honor his family history with George Washington in a poem, published in 1873, entitled “Valley Forge”.

M. Earl Smith University of Pennsylvania

Notes:

1. University of Delaware Library Special Collections Department, Biddle Family Papers, processed by J. Andrew Armacost and Jennifer Paul, last modified January 19, 2011.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4.  Biddle Family Papers.

5. U.S. Marshals Service, "The First Marshal of Pennsylvania: Clement Biddle," accessed September 14, 2016, https://www.usmarshals.gov/history/firstmarshals/biddle.htm.

6. Ibid.

7. Ibid.

8.  “George Washington to Clement Biddle, 17 August 1785,” Founders Online, National Archives.

9.  “George Washington to Clement Biddle, 28 July 1784,” Founders Online, National Archives.

10.  Biddle Family Papers.

Bibliography:

Ketchum, Richard M. The Winter Soldiers: The Battles for Trenton and Princeton. New York: Henry Holt, 1999).

Johnson, Rossiter. "Clement Biddle," in The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans. Boston: American Biographic Society, 1906.

Jordan, John W. Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania: Genealogical and Personal Memoirs. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1978, 740-741.