JOHN BIDLE (1827-1828) was born in Philadelphia in March 1792. He was the son of Charles Biddle, Vice-President of Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary War and a nephew of Commodore Nicholas Biddle, of the Revolutionary Navy. He graduated at Princeton College, and a few years later entered the United States Army. During most of the War of 1812 he served under General Scott upon the Niagara frontier, during a portion of the time attached to his staff, and was promoted from a Captain of Artillery to the position of Major. His brother, Major Thomas Biddie, was also in the United States Army, and served in the same campaigns, and an older brother. Commodore James Biddle, was a noted naval officer. At the close of the war Major Biddie was stationed at Detroit. After some years he resigned his commission and went east. In 1819 he married Eliza F. Bradish, of New York, and, returning to Detroit, made quite extensive purchases of lands. In 1823 he was appointed Register of the Land Office for the district of Detroit, and held the office until 1837. In 1827 and 1828 he served as Mayor of Detroit, and from 1829 to 1831 was a delegate in Congress from Michigan, and in 1841 served in the State Legislature. He took great interest in political matters, and was President of the convention which framed the State Constitution of 1835. He was a fine scholar, wrote easily and fluently, and his literary productions were always valuable. He was a member of St. Paul's P. E. Church and interested in ail the general religious and philanthropic reforms and efforts of his time. He was President of the original corporation that built the Michigan Central Railroad, and also in 1838 President of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank. In his later years he spent much of his time on his farm, which covered the site of the present city of Wyandotte, and also traveled extensively. On his return from a trip to Europe, in 1859, he spent the summer at White Sulphur Springs, Virginia, where he died suddenly on August 25 after taking a cold bath. He had a large family several of whom survived him. Among these were the widow of General Andrew Porter, William S. Biddle, Major James Biddle and Edward I. Biddle. Source: History of Detroit and Wayne County and Early Michigan By Silas Farmer 1890 Notes: Born 2 March 1792 death occurred 25 August 1859. The son of Charles and Hannah (Shepard) Biddle and married Elizabeth Faulkner Bradish. Children were Thomas, Margaretta, William (1830), James (10 June 1833) and Edward J. (1838). 2nd Biography: Detroit Mayor. Served in the United States Army during the War of 1812. Served as the Mayor of Detroit, Michigan, from 1827 to 1828. Also served as Delegate to the United States Congress from Michigan Territory from 1829 to 1831, Delegate to the Michigan State Constitutional Convention for the 1st District in 1835, Candidate for Governor of Michigan in 1835, and Member of the Michigan State House of Representatives in 1841. Portrait listed by Bill McKern at Find-A-Grave Source: Bill McKern at Find-A-Grave