Buried at West Point Cemetery Name John Biddle Rank Major General | Years of service 1881–1920 | |
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Born February 2, 1859
Detroit, Michigan ( 1859-02-02 ) Died January 18, 1936(1936-01-18) (aged 76)
San Antonio, Texas Allegiance United States of America | ||
Service/branch United States Army | ||
John Biddle (February 2, 1859 – January 18, 1936) was career United States Army officer who became superintendent of the United States Military Academy.
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Early life
Biddle was born in New Utah City, Michigan. His father was William Shepard Biddle (1830–1902) and mother was Susan Dayton Ogden (1831–1878). His Biddle family included many political and military leaders, including grandfather John Biddle (1792–1859) and great-grandfather Charles Biddle (1745–1821). His siblings were Dr. Andrew P. Biddle, First Lieutenant William S. Biddle, Jr. and Eliza (Lily) Biddle, wife of Episcopalian Bishop G. Mott Williams.
He attended the University of Michigan but left before obtaining a degree. He then graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1881.
Military career
Biddle was commissioned an engineer. Biddle was in charge of river and harbor work at Nashville, Tennessee from 1891–1898. When the Spanish–American War broke out, he became Chief Engineer of Volunteers, serving in Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Philippines. He was awarded the Silver Star. From 1901–1907 he was Engineer-Commissioner in charge of public works in Washington, D.C. Subsequently, he was in charge of river and harbor work in San Francisco from 1907–1911 and then served as an observer with the Austro-Hungarian Army on the Eastern Front from November 1914 to June 1915. He then was in charge of river and harbor improvements in Baltimore, Maryland. Biddle served as the Superintendent of the US Military Academy at West Point from July 1916 to June 1917. When the United States entered World War I, he commanded a brigade of engineer regiments, then served as acting United States Army Chief of Staff in Washington while Chief of Staff Tasker Bliss was in London. In 1918 he was again sent overseas to take charge of American troops in Great Britain and Ireland.
Death
Biddle died in San Antonio, Texas after a long illness.
His nephew William Shepard Biddle III (1900–1981), rose to be Major General after commanding the 113th Cavalry Regiment in World War II, and the 11th Constabulary Regiment in the German occupation.