Nicholas Biddle

Nicholas Biddle (1750 – 1778) was one of the first captains of the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War, and a member of the Templar Order.

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 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 working for the British Crown, Biddle met Robert Faulkner.

Later, while in Martha's Vineyard, Biddle was talking with Benjamin Church, who intended to recruit him into the Templar Order. As the meeting progressed, Biddle first encountered Connor, an 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 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 La Belladonna, a French ship providing aid to the Continental war drive. However, the Randolph abandoned La Belladonna to be attacked and seized by Templar ships.

The Aquila, captained by Connor, came to  La Belladonna' 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  Randolph' s mast with a single broadside of chained cannonballs.

Following this, Connor and the  Aquila' 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, with Biddle furiously vowing to make Connor suffer for the damage dealt to the Randolph.

Death
"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.

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.

Because of this, Biddle was a well admired and respected captain; 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. Rather than allow his ship to be captured, he convinced Connor to let him sink with his ship.

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 of Barbados, while in the game his death occured in the Bahamas.

Reference

 * Assassin's Creed III