Historical and
Commemorative Medals
Collection of Benjamin Weiss
CAPTAIN JAMES BIDDLE FURST, Moritz: USA, 1815, Bronze, 65 mm James Biddle (1783-1848) was taken prisoner by the Tripolitans in 1803 and was held captive during the balance of the war with the Barbary pirates. He was liberated, given command of a gun boat and later recaptured by the British in 1812. After being exchanged as a prisoner, he was promoted to Master Commandant, and given command of the sloop-of-war Hornet. On March 23, 1815 off Tristan d'Acunha in the South Atlantic, the Hornet met and captured the British sloop-of-war Penguin in the last warship action in the War of 1812. The cannonade was furious and Biddle was severely wounded in the battle. After the war he served the U.S. in various commercial missions and negotiated the first treaty with China. LINK to article: Medalic History of the War of 1812: Consequences to the American Indian Nations (by Benjamin Weiss) LINK to biography of Captain James Biddle (from Virtualology) LINK to Capture of the Penguin (from Naval Historical Center) |
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