Introduction
General Sir Michael Anthony Shrapnel Biddulph GCB (30 July 1823 – 23 July 1904) was a British Army officer who became Black Rod.
Military career
Educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, Biddulph was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1843. He served in the Crimean War taking part in the Battles of Alma, Balaclava and Inkerman as well as the Siege of Sevastopol. He was appointed Deputy Adjutant-General of Artillery in India in 1868, Commander of the Rohilkhand district in 1875 and Commander of the Quetta field force in 1878 serving in that role during the Second Anglo-Afghan War. He was given command of the Rawalpindi district in India in 1880 and made President of the Ordnance Committee in 1887 until his retirement in 1890.
In retirement he served as Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod 1896–1904 and was an Extra Groom in Waiting to King Edward VII 1901–1904.He also took to watercolor painting:
Biddulph is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery.
Family
In 1857 he married Katharine Stamati.