George Balch
| George Beall Balch | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | January 3, 1821 Shelbyville, Tennessee |
| Died | April 18, 1908 (aged 87) Raleigh, North Carolina |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1837–1883 |
| Rank |
 Rear Admiral
|
| Commands held |
USS Pocahontas USS Pawnee USS Albany Pacific Squadron |
| Battles/wars |
Mexican-American War American Civil War |
George Beall Balch (3 January 1821 – 18 April 1908) was an admiral in the United States Navy who served during the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War.
Balch was born in Shelbyville, Tennessee, on 3 January 1821, and was appointed acting midshipman on 30 December 1837. After serving in the sloop Cyane during a cruise to the Mediterranean between 24 June 1838 and 16 May 1841, Balch saw duty in the schooner Grampus and the sloop Falmouth before attending the Naval School in Philadelphia, where he was promoted to passed midshipman on 29 June 1843.
Eventually assigned to the steamer Princeton, Balch served in her during the war with Mexico. He participated in the abortive August 1846 assault on Alvarado, where strong currents in the river prevented the flotilla's boats from landing, and in the successful 9 March 1847 landing of General Winfield Scott's army at Vera Cruz. During the latter campaign, Balch served as acting master of captured schooner Falcon.
Returning to Princeton, he accompanied the steamer on a two-year cruise to the Mediterranean, sailing east on 17 August 1847 and returning to the Boston Navy Yard on 17 July 1849. He then saw service at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., where he was promoted to lieutenant on 16 August 1850.
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