Biography

05/24/1765 - 08/11/1849

Major Marks John Biddle (Federalist5) Berks and Schuylkill Counties 1816-1819

Early Life: 

Major Marks John Biddle, born May 24, 1765, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America; son of James and Frances Marks Biddle; pursued business, studied law within the Biddle family; admitted, Reading, Philadelphia bars, 1788; married, Jane Dundas, 1793; proprietor, Biddle’s Spring Tavern; Major, Sixth Pennsylvania Regiment, 1st Battalion Pennsylvania Militia, 1794; unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1807; unsuccessful campaign, United States House of Representatives, 1810; unsuccessful campaigns, House of Representatives, 1814, 1815; elected, Federalist, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1816-1819; appointed, prothonotary, Berks County, 1821-1823; various business pursuits; died,  August 11, 1849 (age 84), Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania; interment Charles Evans Cemetery, Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Proprietor, Biddle’s Spring Tavern, purchased from the Penn family. Major, Sixth Pennsylvania Regiment, 1st Battalion Pennsylvania Militia, 1794. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Berks County, 1807.

Unsuccessful campaign, United States House of Representatives, District 3 Pennsylvania, 1810.

Unsuccessful campaigns, House of Representatives, Berks and Schuylkill Counties, Pennsylvania, 1814, 1815.

Elected, Federalist, Pennsylvania State Senate, 5th district, Berks and Schuylkill Counties, 1816-1819. 

Appointed, prothonotary, Berks County, Governor Joseph Hiester, 1821-1823.

Legacy:

Uncle, Charles Biddle, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1st district, Philadelphia City and Philadelphia County, 1810-1814. 

Charles Biddle  - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov).

First cousin, Nicholas Biddle, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1st district, Philadelphia City, Philadelphia County, 1814-1817; President, Second United States Bank. Nicholas Biddle  - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

Wife, Jane Dundas, niece, Sir Ralph Dundas, Major-General, British Army.

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members B". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

A New Nation Votes (tufts.edu)

Biography: Biddle, Craig, Autobiography of Charles Biddle (Philadelphia, E. Claxton and Company, 1883).

Maj Marks John Biddle (1765-1849) - Find a Grave Memorial