Andalusia History
Commodore James Biddle (1783-1848), a brother of Nicholas Biddle (1786-1844), served in the United States Navy for forty-eight years. James Biddle was a crew member of the ship Philadelphia that ran aground on the coast of Tripoli in 1803 during the Barbary Pirate wars. After spending nineteen months in prison, the crew was freed in an agreement initiated by General Eaton and a group of men which included nine United States Marines later celebrated in the Marine's hymn "to the shores of Tripoli."
Biddle's exploits during the War of 1812 enabled him to rise in rank much faster than normal; he was awarded a medal and a sword for his deeds. In 1817 Biddle received orders to, among other duties, set the American flag at the mouth of the Columbia River to provide a stronger US claim to Oregon over Great Britain. Upon his return by way of Chile, Biddle became embroiled in a disagreement with British commander Lord Thomas Cochrane over the firing of salutes.
As Commander of the West India Squadron during 1823 and 1824, Biddle's role was to deal with piracy although the successes were overplayed by the loss of approximately one third of his crew on the Macedonian to yellow fever. More successful was the Commodore's role in arranging a trade treaty with Turkey in 1830 and taking over from the ill Alexander H. Everett and exchanging ratification of the treaty with China in 1845. Biddle's short stay in Japan's Jeddo Harbor a few months later has long been a point of controversy; some scholars insist that the Commodore failed in his attempt to open trade with Japan. However, Government instructions explicitly ordered that he was to proceed with utmost care to see if ports were open and make an attempt at gaining access, yet "not in such a manner as to excite a hostile feeling or a distrust of the Government of the United States."
During his time in the Philadelphia area, Commodore Biddle visited Andalusia as often as possible; both his travels and generosity are reflected in many objects in the Big House.
Charles Biddle (1819-1873), the journalist son of Nicholas and Jane Biddle (1793-1856), was also a member of the United States House of Representatives and served with the US Army during the Mexican and Civil Wars.
John Craig Biddle (1823-1910), another son of Nicholas and Jane, later known as Craig Biddle, also served with the Army during the Civil War. He later became a respected judge in Philadelphia County.
Long interested in gardening at Andalusia, in 1913 Letitia Glenn Biddle (1864-1950), who was married to Charles Biddle (1857-1923), met with a small number of women in the Billiard Room where they wrote the Constitution for the Garden Club of America. Charles and Letitia modernized the Big House by installing electricity in 1917.
When they married in the 1920's, Charles (1890-1972) and Katharine Legendre Biddle (1893-1973) became full-time residents. Charles Biddle was a successful attorney who served with distinction during World War I as a member of the Lafayette Escadrille. An ace pilot credited with destroying eight enemy aircraft, Major Biddle was a recipient of the Legion of Honor and the Croix de Guerre as well as the American Distinguished Service Cross. He wrote of his experiences in a book, Fighting Airman, the Way of the Eagle based on letters home to his parents.
One of Charles and Katharine's sons, James Biddle (1929-2005), was curator of the American wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and served as President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. During his tenure at the National Trust, membership as well as influence of the Trust increased dramatically. After retirement, he resided in the Cottage on the Andalusia estate and in 1980 created the Andalusia Foundation to help preserve his ancestral home.