Portrait of Captain Nicholas Biddle by Orlando Lagman, after a painting attributed to James Peale. (US Naval History and Heritage Command) 9 Nicholas Biddle: America’s Revolutionary War Nelson ChippReid The explosion lit up the night, showering the sea and everything on it with debris. The crew of the 64-gun HMSYarmouthstood dumbfounded at the scene. For nearly fifteen minutes, the nimble Yankee frigate Randolph had pummelled the much larger British warship, whose captain, Nicholas Vincent, appeared on the verge of surrendering the Yarmouth when his opponent suddenly exploded.1 The rain of splinters, iron and copper caused even more casualties on the Yarmouth. Only four men survived on the American vessel.2 Among the dead was the American commander, Captain Nicholas Biddle.
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