Biddle, Edward, 1738-1779

Edward Biddle (1738 – September 5, 1779) was an American Founding Father, soldier, lawyer, and statesman from Pennsylvania. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1774 and 1775 and a signatory to the Continental Association.

Born in Philadelphia, Biddle's formal education was limited to the common (public) schools and ended at about age fourteen. When the French and Indian War began in 1754, he joined the provincial forces as an ensign. By the time he left the service, at the end of the war in 1763 he had been promoted to captain. After the war, Biddle read law in the offices of his brother-in-law, George Read. By 1767 he had been admitted to the bar, and the couple moved to Reading where he began his practice.

In 1767, Biddle began his career in the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly as a representative for Berks County, serving until 1775. He was also a member of the rebel provincial congress and later the state General Assembly until 1778. Biddle was a leader within that body of the Whig or radical group in the struggle to set Pennsylvania's course in the revolution. In 1774, Biddle was among those sent as delegates to the First Continental Congress. While there, Biddle was a member of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Rights and later oversaw the printing of the resolutions the Congress had passed.

Early in 1775, Governor John Penn called the Assembly into session, intent on having Pennsylvania send its own declarations to the crown. These would be based on the Galloway Plan that had been rejected by the Continental Congress, and would try to reconcile Pennsylvania with the British government. But the legislature mirrored the growing split within the colonies. Whigs led by Biddle, George Ross and John Dickinson won the day. Biddle was elected speaker. The actions of the Continental Congress were approved, and a more radical delegation was named to the next Congress.

Again a member of the Pennsylvania assembly in 1778, Biddle died in Chatsworth, Baltimore County, Maryland the following year. He was buried in St. Pauls Churchyard in Baltimore.