Commodore James Biddle

Discover the naval adventures of Commodore James Biddle. As a midshipman aboard the USS Philadelphia, he was among the sailors captured during the First Barbary War and imprisoned for 19 months in Tripoli. In the War of 1812, he won recognition for his heroics aboard the USS Wasp and USS Hornet. Later, he sailed the world, including to China and Japan, and ran the U.S. Naval Asylum in Philadelphia, which housed the Naval Academy prior to its move to Annapolis.

This exhibition features a range of personal items belonging to Commodore Biddle, including his naval uniform and swords, books, and a sketchbook illustrating significant moments of his illustrious career. Unique pieces of clothing and decorative arts brought back to Andalusia from Commodore Biddle’s travels to China are also on view, such as an ornate bird cage shaped like a boat.