Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle Jr.
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| 14th United States Ambassador to Spain | |
| In office May 25, 1961 – October 12, 1961 |
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| President | John F. Kennedy |
| Preceded by | John Davis Lodge |
| Succeeded by | Robert F. Woodward |
| 1st United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia | |
| In office July 12, 1943 – December 1, 1943 |
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| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Himself (as Minister) |
| Succeeded by | Laurence A. Steinhardt |
| 1st United States Ambassador to Yugoslavia | |
| In office November 3, 1942 – September 28, 1943 |
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| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Himself (as Minister) |
| Succeeded by | Lincoln MacVeagh |
| 1st United States Ambassador to Greece | |
| In office October 30, 1942 – March 16, 1943 |
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| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Himself (as Minister) |
| Succeeded by | Alexander Comstock Kirk |
| 1st United States Ambassador to Norway | |
| In office May 13, 1942 – December 1, 1943 |
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| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Himself (as Minister) |
| Succeeded by | Lithgow Osborne |
| 1st United States Ambassador to the Netherlands | |
| In office May 8, 1942 – December 1, 1943 |
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| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Himself (as Minister) |
| Succeeded by | Stanley Hornbeck |
| 22nd United States Minister to Greece | |
| In office November 28, 1941 – October 30, 1942 |
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| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Lincoln MacVeagh |
| Succeeded by | Himself (as Ambassador) |
| 7th United States Minister to Czechoslovakia | |
| In office October 28, 1941 – July 12, 1943 |
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| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Wilbur J. Carr |
| Succeeded by | Himself (as Ambassador) |
| 5th United States Minister to Yugoslavia | |
| In office October 3, 1941 – October 3, 1942 |
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| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Arthur Bliss Lane |
| Succeeded by | Himself (as Ambassador) |
| 30th United States Minister to the Netherlands | |
| In office March 27, 1941 – May 8, 1942 |
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| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | George A. Gordon |
| Succeeded by | Himself (as Ambassador) |
| 9th United States Ambassador to Belgium | |
| In office March 24, 1941 – December 1, 1943 |
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| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | John Cudahy |
| Succeeded by | Charles W. Sawyer |
| 7th and 9th United States Minister to Norway | |
| In office March 20, 1941 – May 13, 1942 |
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| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | Florence Harriman |
| Succeeded by | Himself (as Ambassador) |
| In office September 7, 1935 – May 21, 1937 |
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| Preceded by | Hoffman Philip |
| Succeeded by | Florence Harriman |
| 5th United States Ambassador to Poland | |
| In office June 2, 1937 – December 1, 1943 |
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| President | Franklin D. Roosevelt |
| Preceded by | John Cudahy |
| Succeeded by | Arthur Bliss Lane |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 17, 1897 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US |
| Died | November 13, 1961 (aged 63) Washington, D.C., US |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Spouses |
Mary Lillian Duke
(m. 1915; div. 1931)Margaret Thompson Schulze
(m. 1931; div. 1945)Margaret Atkinson Loughborough
(m. 1946–1961) |
| Children | 4, including Mary Duke Biddle |
| Parent |
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| Occupation | Soldier, diplomat |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1917–1919; 1944–1955 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle Jr. (December 17, 1897 – November 13, 1961) was an important American diplomat and soldier. He served as an ambassador for the United States in many countries from the 1930s until 1961. He also fought in both World War I and World War II, reaching the high rank of Major General in the United States Army.
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Early Life
Anthony J. D. Biddle Jr. was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 17, 1897. His father, Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle Sr., was a very wealthy man. The Biddle family was well-known, with famous bankers like Anthony Joseph Drexel and Nicholas Biddle in their history.
His father was also a big fan of boxing. When Anthony Jr. was just ten years old, he even had a boxing match with a famous boxer named Bob Fitzsimmons!
Anthony Jr. went to St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire. He did not go to college after that.
Career Highlights
Soldier and Businessman
During World War I, Anthony Biddle Jr. joined the Army as a private. He quickly moved up the ranks to become a captain.
In the 1920s, he tried out different business ideas. While he was good at making friends and hosting parties, his businesses often didn't make much money. For example, he managed a Belgian boxer. He also invested in the St. Regis Hotel. He once threw a big party there where many expensive bottles of champagne disappeared!
He also tried to open a fancy nightclub called the Central Park Casino in Central Park in New York City. But after the Wall Street Crash of 1929, many of his investments failed. The Casino was eventually closed down.
Becoming a Diplomat
In 1935, Anthony Biddle Jr. became the U.S. diplomat (called an Envoy) to Norway. Even though some people thought he got the job because he supported the Democratic Party, his excellent social skills made him a great choice for a diplomat. He and his wife were very good at representing the United States.
In 1937, he became the U.S. Ambassador to Poland. This was a very important time because in September 1939, Germany invaded Poland, which started World War II. His house was even hit by bomb pieces! He and his family had to escape to safety.
He then joined the Polish government in exile in France. Later, he and his wife traveled through Portugal to get back to New York City.
From 1941 to 1943, he served as ambassador to several other countries whose governments had also been forced to leave their homes during the war. These included Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Yugoslavia. He worked from London during this time, helping these governments.
After the War
In 1944, Biddle left his diplomatic role to rejoin the Army. He worked for Dwight Eisenhower, who would later become president. Biddle helped gather important information from underground groups in occupied countries. This information was key for planning Operation Overlord, the big Allied invasion of France. After the war, he helped with rebuilding Europe.
He continued to rise in the Army, becoming a brigadier general in 1951 and a major general in 1955.
In 1961, Anthony Biddle Jr. became the U.S. Ambassador to Spain. He served there until shortly before his death later that year.
Personal Life
Anthony Biddle Jr. was married three times and had children. His first wife was Mary Lillian Duke, from a wealthy tobacco family. They had two children:
- Mary Duke Biddle
- Nicholas Duke Biddle
He passed away on November 13, 1961, in Washington, D.C.. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, a famous military cemetery.
Personal Style
Anthony Biddle Jr. was known for being a very stylish and well-dressed man. He was often seen in perfectly tailored suits. In 1943, he even appeared on the cover of Life magazine!
He was recognized as one of the best-dressed men in the U.S. in 1960. He was known for his custom-made suits and special shirts.
Family Legacy
His sister, Cordelia Drexel Biddle, wrote a book about their family. This book was later turned into a play and a movie called The Happiest Millionaire in 1967.
His nephew, Angier Biddle Duke, also became a diplomat, following in his uncle's footsteps.
Diplomatic Posts
Anthony Biddle Jr. held many important diplomatic roles:
- U.S. Minister to:
- Norway, 1935–37, and again 1941–43
- Netherlands, 1941–43
- Yugoslavia, 1941–43
- Czechoslovakia, 1941–43
- Greece, 1941–43
- U.S. Ambassador to:
- Poland, 1937–43
- Belgium, 1941–43
- Netherlands, 1942–43
- Norway, 1941–43
- Yugoslavia, 1942
- Greece, 1942–43
- Czechoslovakia, 1943
- Spain, 1961
Many of his appointments from 1941 to 1943 were to the governments of these countries that were living in exile in London during World War II.
Orders, Decorations and Medals
Anthony Biddle Jr. received several awards for his service:
- Distinguished Service Medal
- Legion of Merit
- World War I Victory Medal
- European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- Army of Occupation Medal
- National Defense Service Medal
- Armed Forces Reserve Medal
He also received many awards from other countries.
See Also
- List of United States ambassadors to Poland
- List of United States ambassadors to Spain
