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Biddle (NICHOLAS an American financier)

NICHOLAS, an American financier, born in Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 8, 1786; became secretary to John Armstrong, United States Minister to France, in 1804, and subsequently went to England as secretary to James Monroe, then United States Minister. He returned home in 1807, was elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1810, and was appointed a director of the United States Bank in 1819. He became president of the bank in 1823 and managed it ably down to the expiration of its charter. The financial trouble precipitated upon the country by Jackson's withdrawal of the Government deposits in 1833 gave an unfortunate ending to Biddle's career as a banker. His integrity has since been vindicated. He published a "Commercial Digest," and "History of the Expedition under Lewis and Clark to the Pacific Ocean." He died in Philadelphia, Feb. 27, 1844.