Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Jr.
Major General, U.S. Army

Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Jr. was born on 17 December 1897 in Philadelphia, PA, to one of Pennsylvania's leading families. He was a businessman, sportsman, diplomat and soldier and enjoyed boxing, tennis, fencing, skiing and boating.

Biddle enlisted in the New York Calvary during World War I and was promoted to Captain. He joined the diplomatic service in 1935 when he was appointed as Minister of Norway, a post he left in 1937 to become the U.S. Ambassador to Poland. With the Polish government, he and his wife escaped as the Germans overran the country; traveling to France where he served as France's interim ambassador in 1940. When the exiled Polish government set up residency in London in 1941, he was also commissioned as the Minister of the Netherlands, Norway, Greece, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia. In 1942, he was appointed Ambassador to all of these countries, and Belgium, and served as such until 1943. He resigned in 1944 and returned to active duty in the U.S. Army.

He served on the Planning Staff for Operation Overload. After the war, he held other staff positions, as Liaison and Chief of Staff. In 1955, while serving as the Adjutant General of his native state, he was promoted to Brigadier General. For his service, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit.

From March to October 1961, he was the Ambassador to Spain.

Death and Burial

Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, Jr. died on 13 November 1961 in Washington, DC. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.