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Patriot

He was engaged in mercantile pursuits, and with his younger brother, Clement Biddle, signed the Non-importation Resolutions of October 25, 1765. He was a delegate to the Provincial Conference January 23, 1775; member of the Committee of Safety from June 30, 1775, to July 22,1776, and of the Council of Safety from July 24, 1776, to March 13, 1777. He became a member of the Board of War on March 13, 1777, and was a member of the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention of July 15, 1776.

In June, 1777, he was appointed Deputy Commissary General of Forage, with the rank of Colonel, by the Continental Congress. He served under his younger brother, Clement, who was the Commissary General of Forage and also a Colonel, until August 15, 1780. He and his brother labored for three years to obtain provisions for the Continental Army's horses, mules and other draft animals, while struggling to obtain funds, working with unreliable subordinates, and many unresponsive farmers.

During the time the British occupied Philadelphia, they destroyed his country residence, Peel Hall, which was on the grounds of what is now Girard College.

Astronomy and science

He was an early and active member of the American Philosophical Society, one of its curators from 1769 to 1772, and secretary from 1773 to 1782, when he became one of the councilors, continuing as such until his death. He was one of the committee of thirteen appointed by the Society to observe the transit of Venus on June 3, 1769. These observations were made with eminent success by three members of the Committee, David Rittenhouse being stationed at Norristown, Dr. Ewins at Philadelphia, and Owen Biddle at Cape Henlopen, Delaware.

Family

He married Sarah Parke in 1760, and fathered ten children over a period of twenty years, including Owen Biddle, Jr. (1774-1806), a member of the Carpenters' Company of the City and County of Philadelphia. He died on March 10, 1799, in Philadelphia.

See also

• Biddle family

Original text

BIDDLE, OWEN, of the city of Philadelphia, a great-grandson of William Biddle—one of the Proprietors of West Jersey, and for many years of the Governor's Council of that Colony—was born in Philadelphia in the year 1737. He was engaged in mercantile pursuits, and with his brother, Clement, signed the celebrated Non-importation Resolutions of October 25, 1765. He was a delegate to the Provincial Conference Jan. 23,1775 ; member of the Committee of Safety from June 80, 1775, to July 22,1776, and of the Council of Safety from July 24, 1776, to March 13, 1777; member of the Board of War March 13, 1777; of the Convention of July 15,1776, and, in June, 1777, Deputy Commissary of Forage. His name appears in the list of Philadelphia merchants headed by Robert Morris, who became personally bound for various sums, amounting in the aggregate to over £260,000 sterling, for purchasing provisions for the army at a time when there was great difficulty in procuring supplies. During the occupancy of Philadelphia by the British, the enemy destroyed his residence, which was on the site of the Girard College grounds. He was an early and active member of the American Philosophical Society, one of its curators from 1769 to 1772, and secretary from 1773 to 1782, when he became one of the councilors, continuing as such until his death. He was one of the Committee of thirteen appointed by the Society to observe the transit of Venus on 3d of June, 1769. These observations were made with eminent success by three members of the Committee, Mr. Rittenhouse being stationed at Norristown. Dr. Ewins: at Philadelphia, and Mr. Biddle at Cape Henlopen. Mr. Biddle died at Philadelphia on the 10th of March, 1799. His descendants have always taken a prominent part in the benevolent and business enterprises of the metropolis.

This text is dated 1879, and therefore is in the public domain in the United States and elsewhere.

<ref name='HSP1879'> {{cite journal|title=THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OF 1776. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ITS MEMBERS. Biddle, Owen. |journal=THE PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE OF HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY|date=1879|first=William H.|last=Egle, M.D.|coauthors=|volume=45|issue=1879|pages=194-195|id= |url= HTTP://BOOKS.GOOGLE.COM/BOOKS?ID=IA8XAAAAIAAJ&PG=PA194&DQ=THE+CONSTITUTIONAL+CONVENTION+OF+1776%2BBIDDLE#V=ONEPAGE&Q=&F=FALSE|format=PDF|accessdate=2009-08-08 }}</ref>

More

• Owen Biddle, Sr. (1737-1799), American Revolutionary War soldier, mathematician, astronomer - observed 1769 Transit of Venus at Cape Henlopen, member of the American Philosophical Society
• Edward Biddle (1738-1779), delegate to the Continental Congress
• Clement Biddle (1740 – 1814) American Revolutionary War soldier, helped organize the “Quaker Blues" volunteers, deputy quartermaster general of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey militia, brother of Owen Biddle, Sr.
• Nicholas Biddle (1750-1778), Revolutionary Navy captain
• Owen Biddle, Jr., (1774-1806) member of the Carpenters’ Company of the City and County of Philadelphia, architect-builder, author "The Young Carpenters' Apprentice" (1805)

Distinguish between the father, Owen Biddle, Sr.(1737-1799), and his son, Owen Biddle, Jr., (1774-1806), member of the Carpenters’ Company of the City and County of Philadelphia, architect-builder, author "The Young Carpenters' Apprentice" (1805)

Another citation for Owen Biddle, maybe Sr., uncertain.

Philadelphia's Mechanics in the First Decade of Revolution 1765-1775 Charles S. Olton The Journal of American History, Vol. 59, No. 2 (Sep., 1972), pp. 311-326 (article consists of 16 pages) Published by: Organization of American Historians Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1890192

More on Owen Biddle, Sr.

His residence was Peel Hall, which occupied the site of the present Girard College, and which was burned during the British occupation of the city, and it has usually been supposed was destroyed in retaliation for his activity in the American service. But upon investigation this proves to be erroneous. The Peel Hall property, containing forty-five acres of land, was purchased June 7, 1742, by Oswald Peel, who doubtless erected the mansion-house, and from whom it derived its name. In 1765 Oswald Peel died, and his executors conveyed the same to Turbutt Francis, who the same year conveyed it to William Dowell. He died in 1768, and on the 17th of April, 1771, his widow conveyed the same to Andrew Doz, who, on the 1st of April, 1775, conveyed it to Bichard Penn.

It was during the ownership of Richard Penn that the building was burned (in November, 1777), the excuse being that it served as a protection for the rebels in firing upon the British.

On the 15th of February, 1779, Richard Penn, by his attorney, Tench Francis, conveyed the said forty-five acres, with the ruins of the mansion-house, to Owen Biddle, the deed reciting that

" the capital Messuage called Peel Hall, with the outhouses, improvements and gardens, being now torn down, burnt, and almost destroyed ; and the tract or piece of land belonging thereunto being laid waste and opened to commons ; the Fences which enclosed the same being taken away and destroyed ; and the said Tench Francis, attorney for the said Richard Penn being mindful of the Trust in him reposed, thinking it most advantageous to the estate, and for the benefit of the said Richard Penn, to sell and dispose of the same; accordingly has contracted with and sold the same to Owen Biddle for the consideration of Nine thousand three hundred and Eighty Seven pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania." '

http://books.google.com/books?pg=PA315&dq=Owen%20Biddle&lr=&id=SKU5AAAAIAAJ&output=text