Nicholas Biddle

2015-01-11T12:24:58Z

46.65.22.217: /* Personality and characteristics */

{{Era|AC3|Templars}}
{{WP-REAL|Nicholas Biddle (naval officer)}}
{{Character Infobox
|image = AC3 Nicholas Biddle render.png
|birth = 10 September 1750 [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], {{Wiki|British America}}
|death = 17 March 1778 (aged 27) [[The Bahamas]], [[Caribbean Sea]]
|affiliates = [[Royal Navy|British Navy]] (1770 – 1773) [[Templars]] (1773 – death) [[Continental Army|Continental Navy]] (1775 – death)
|voice = [[Fred Tatasciore]]
|appear = ''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''}}
'''Nicholas Biddle''' (1750 – 1778) was one of the first captains of the [[Continental Army|Continental Navy]] during the [[American Revolutionary War]], and a member of the [[Templars|Templar Order]].

==Biography==
===Early life===
Nicholas was born in [[Philadelphia]] in the year 1750 to William Biddle and Mary Scull. At the age of thirteen, he journeyed on a voyage to the [[Caribbean|West Indies]], during which he was stranded on a desert island for two months. In 1770, Biddle joined the British [[Royal Navy]], where he served as a junior officer. During his time under the British Crown, Biddle met with [[Robert Faulkner]].

Later, while in [[Martha's Vineyard]], Biddle was talking with [[Benjamin Church]], who intended to recruit him into the [[Templars|Templar Order]]. As the meeting progressed, Biddle first encountered [[Ratonhnhaké:ton|Connor]], an [[Assassins|Assassin]], where he quickly exchanged an insult with Faulkner, before the developing argument was cut short by [[Amanda Bailey]].

In 1775, Biddle resigned his commission to join the Continental Navy at the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. Following this, Biddle was given command of a schooner vessel, the ''Franklin'', and patrolled the naval convoy routes.

===Reign of the East Coast===
Biddle devised a plan with his Templar co-conspirators in the British Navy, ultimately aiming to strengthen and expand the Continental Navy under his command for the Templar cause. Biddle sent Templar [[ships]] to attack merchant vessels in Martha's Vineyard and to occupy [[Fort Phoenix]], despite its lack of strategic value.

From there, Biddle pleaded and tricked the [[Continental Congress]] into believing that the British Navy was a threat to the Colonial coast. As a result, the Congress commissioned more ships for the Continental Navy, and by 1776, the Congress made Biddle the captain of a frigate, the ''[[USS Randolph|Randolph]]''.

Biddle continued patrolling the Colonial coast and naval trade routes while orchestrating British attacks with his Templar co-conspirators. The ''Randolph'' attacked [[Nantucket]], claiming it was a British Loyalist post when it had actually sided with the Continental Army, in an attempt to further convince the Congress that more ships were needed. Biddle also planned to boost his reputation and service record in order to be promoted to the rank of Admiral over the entire Continental Navy fleet.

Soon after, the ''Randolph'' was assigned to escort ''[[Belladonna|La Belladonna]]'', a [[French Navy|French ship]] providing aid to the Continental war drive. However, the ''Randolph'' abandoned ''La Belladonna'' to be attacked and seized by Templar ships.

[[File:ACIII-Frenchinvolvement 10.png|thumb|250px|left|Biddle aboard the ''Randolph'']]
The ''[[Aquila]]'', captained by Connor, came to ''<nowiki>La Belladonna'</nowiki>''s defense before the ships attacked. The two vessels then destroyed the formation of Templar ships, while Biddle observed the battle safely from a distance.

In 1778, in order to remove Connor as a threat to his plans, Biddle patrolled the Caribbean coast, successfully luring the ''Aquila'' into a trap. In this encounter, the ''Randolph'' attacked the ''Aquila'' with the aid of two ''Men-of-War''. However, the ''Aquila'' destroyed the ''Men-of-War'' and successfully disabled the ''<nowiki>Randolph'</nowiki>''s mast with a single broadside of chained cannonballs.

Following this, Connor and the ''<nowiki>Aquila'</nowiki>''s crew boarded and attacked the ''Randolph'', during which Connor confronted Biddle on the quarterdeck, causing both crews to cease fighting and watch as the two captains dueled.

===Death===
{{Quote|Wait. Let the Randolph die with me. Don't take her as a prize. Please. Please. I want no quarter, just to sink with my ship.|Biddle's final words to Connor.|Assassin's Creed III}}
[[File:ACIII-Biddlehideout 5.png|thumb|250px|Biddle dueling Connor]]
At first, Connor gained the upper hand, until Biddle fired a shot at a gunpowder keg, causing both of them to fall below deck. The two soon continued their duel, with Connor emerging victorious and wounding Biddle. While dying, Biddle justified his actions by claiming that he benefited and empowered the Continental Navy. He rebuked the Assassins, calling Connor a fool for not understanding or accepting his goals.

With his final words, Biddle asked Connor not to take the ''Randolph'' as a prize, instead allowing him to die and sink with his ship. Connor granted this request and left, igniting several barrels of gunpowder behind him, destroying the ''Randolph''.

==Personality and characteristics==
Biddle was a capable, experienced, brave and proud individual, which showed itself in his nautical achievements. He also viewed himself as a "man of vision", and was ambitious, charismatic and arrogant to the point that he saw himself as becoming Admiral of the entire Continental Navy. He also firmly believed in the policy of " a Captain goes down with his ship", as he pleaded that his ship, the ''Randolph'', not be taken as a prize and requested that he be allowed to go with it.

Despite this, Biddle was a well admired and respected captain, in that not only did he lead successful campaigns, he kept morale and his crew's efficiency high by fairly sharing the spoils of victory and through not using corporal punishment.

==Trivia==
*Out of all the Templar portraits in the [[Davenport Homestead]] manor, Biddle's was not crossed out after his death.
*Despite the fact that Biddle's portrait appeared on the wall in the cellar when Connor was first shown it, he failed to recognize him at [[Martha's Vineyard]].
*While Biddle's assassination did not take place within the main storyline of ''Assassin's Creed III'', the naval sequence in which he featured was required for the full [[synchronization]] of Connor's memories.
*Biddle's first vessel was a schooner, the ''Franklin'', which had been named after [[Benjamin Franklin]].
*Historically, Biddle died off the coast off [[Barbados]], while in the game, he dies in [[the Bahamas]].

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="180" spacing="small" position="center" captionalign="center">
ACIII-HardWay 6.png|Connor confronting Church and Biddle
ACIII-HardWay 7.png|Amanda Bailey breaking up Faulkner and Biddle's argument
ACIII-Biddlehideout 6.png|Biddle firing at a powder keg
ACIII-Biddlehideout 7.png|Biddle's final moments
</gallery>

==Reference==
*''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''
{{AC3}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Biddle, Nicholas}}
[[Category:1750 births]]
[[Category:1778 deaths]]
[[Category:Individuals]]
[[Category:Americans]]
[[Category:Royal Navy personnel]]
[[Category:Captains]]
[[Category:Privateers]]
[[Category:Continental Army]]
[[Category:Patriots]]
[[Category:Templars]]

USS Randolph

2015-01-11T12:21:13Z

46.65.22.217: /* Destruction */

{{Era|AC3}}
{{WP-REAL|USS Randolph (1776)}}
[[File:ACIII-Randolph.png|thumb|250px|USS ''Randolph'']]
The '''USS ''Randolph''''' was a 32-gun [[frigate]], named after {{Wiki|Peyton Randolph}}. She was the first [[Ships|ship]] of the Continental Navy, and [[Nicholas Biddle]]'s flagship.

==History==
===Early misfortune===
The construction of the ship was commissioned on 13 December 1775, and finished by July 10 of the next year. The [[Templars|Templar]], Nicholas Biddle, was named as her Captain in October of the same year.

Due to scarcity of seamen, the USS ''Randolph'' was staffed by [[United Kingdom|British]] sailors, who were imprisoned in [[Philadelphia]], and set sail in February 1777. She reached [[Charlestown]] almost a month later, her masts broken, and her crew struck by fever. The crew had also mutinied during the journey.

Subsequently, the USS ''Randolph'' was repaired at the docks, but the mainmast was struck by lightning twice when close to completion. Lightning rods were installed, and she began her military career in August.<ref name="AC3">''[[Assassin's Creed III]]''</ref>

===Templar flagship===
[[File:ACIII-Frenchinvolvement 10.png|thumb|left|250px|Nicholas Biddle aboard the USS ''Randolph'' after abandoning ''La Belladonna'']]
When the USS ''Randolph'' was seaworthy again, Biddle began using her to further the Templars' goals. He began raiding the coast of [[Nantucket]], claiming it was a Loyalist post, despite being controlled by the [[Continental Army]]. He hoped to become Admiral of the Continental Navy, granting him more control. When [[Ratonhnhaké:ton|Connor]] arrived to investigate, the USS ''Randolph'' fled, and left Connor to deal with other ships.

Sometime later, the USS ''Randolph'' was assigned to escort ''[[Belladonna|La Belladonna]]'', a [[French Navy|French]] ship in [[the Bahamas]], covertly bringing supplies for the Americans. Midway through the journey, Biddle left ''La Belladonna'' on her own, and sent his Templar allies to sink the ship. Despite this, Connor arrived and aided the French in sinking several Templar ships and a Man O' War, while Biddle watched from a safe distance.<ref name="AC3"/>

===Destruction===
[[File:ACIII-Biddlehideout 9.png|thumb|250px|The USS ''Randolph'' sinking along with its captain, Nicholas Biddle]]
In March 1778, the [[Assassins|Assassin]] flagship, the ''[[Aquila]]'' – captained by Connor – located the USS ''Randolph'' in the Bahamas and gave chase. Biddle led the ''Aquila'' to an ambush, where the USS ''Randolph'' and two Men-o-War attacked her. After dealing with the Men-o-War, Connor had his crew destroy the masts of the ''Randolph'', before he boarded the ship.

The entire crew of the USS ''Randolph'' was decimated during the ''Aquila'''s attack, while Connor dueled Biddle, first on the top deck and later in the belly of the ship. After besting the Templar, Connor fulfilled Biddle's last wish, and set off an explosion in the USS ''Randolph'', causing her to sink with her Captain.<ref name="AC3"/>

==Reference==
{{Reflist}}
{{AC3}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Randolph, USS}}
[[Category:Frigates]]
[[Category:US Navy warships]]
[[Category:Privateer ships]]
[[Category:Templar ships]]

Assassin's Creed Wiki - User contributions [en-gb]

Nicholas Biddle

USS Randolph