Thomas Biddle was an American military hero during the War of 1812.
12 Facts About Thomas Biddle
1.
2.
Thomas Biddle was born into the powerful Biddle family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, one of ten children born to Charles and Hannah Biddle.
3.
Thomas Biddle's father Charles was a Revolutionary War officer and vice-president of the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
4.
Older brother Nicholas Thomas Biddle was president of the Second Bank of the United States.
5.
Thomas Biddle saw action, at Fort George and Stoney Creek and was wounded, at Fort Erie.
6.
Thomas Biddle was wounded again at the Battle of Lundy's Lane, where he distinguished himself by capturing the only British cannon seized in the clash.
7.
On September 1,1823, Thomas Biddle married Ann Mullanphy, daughter of Missouri's first millionaire, John Mullanphy.
8.
In one such letter, Thomas Biddle called Pettis "a dish of skimmed milk", to which Pettis responded by questioning Thomas Biddle's manhood.
9.
Things escalated dramatically on July 9,1831, when Thomas Biddle heard that an ill Pettis was resting in a St Louis hotel.
10.
Thomas Biddle attacked Pettis in his room, beating him severely with a cowhide whip until other hotel guests intervened.
11.
At the court proceedings, Pettis attempted to draw a pistol with the intention of shooting Thomas Biddle, but was restrained by friends.
12.
At this, Thomas Biddle stated that he would promptly accept any challenge that the Congressman cared to issue.