caption resting_place death_date death_place children birth_place image_size parents birth_date spouse article_title name
biddle island , 1942 -lrb- left foreground -rrb- training marines in parris the woodlands -lrb- philadelphia , pennsylvania -rrb- 1948 5 27 1874 10 1 philadelphia , pennsylvania anthony cordelia drexel biddle joseph drexel biddle , jr. livingston ludlow biddle philadelphia , pennsylvania 225px edward biddle iii emilie taylor drexel 1874 10 1 cordelia rundell bradley anthony joseph drexel biddle , sr. .
 anthony joseph drexel biddle , sr. .
anthony joseph drexel biddle , sr. .

anthony joseph drexel biddle i -lrb- 1874 -- 1948 -rrb- , also known as anthony joseph drexel biddle , sr. , was the man upon whom the book `` my philadelphia father '' and the play and film `` the happiest millionaire '' were based .
he was a fellow of the american geographical society and was renowned as an eccentric gentleman whose fortune allowed him to pursue theatricals , self-published writing , athletics , and christianity on a full-time basis ; he also kept alligators as pets .
he founded a movement called `` athletic christianity '' that eventually attracted 300,000 members around the world .
a 1955 sports illustrated article called him `` boxing 's greatest amateur '' as well as a `` major factor in the re-establishment of boxing as a legal and , at that time , estimable sport . ''
