Sir John Balchen

Sir John Balchen
Sir John Balchen, c.1695 by Jonathan Richardson the Elder
Born	(1670-02-02)2 February 1670 Godalming, Surrey
Died	4 October 1744(1744-10-04) (aged 74) Casquets, Channel Islands
Allegiance	England  Great Britain
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1685 to 1744
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	Greenwich Naval Hospital
Battles/wars	Nine Years' War War of the Spanish Succession • Battle of Vigo Bay • Battle at the Lizard • Defence of HMS Gloucester War of the Quadruple Alliance • Battle of Cape Passaro War of the Austrian Succession • Wreck of HMS Victory
Awards	Knighthood

Admiral Sir John Balchen (2 February 1670 – 4 October 1744), sometimes written as Balchin, was an officer of the British Royal Navy with a long and distinguished career during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. In the course of his service at sea, Balchen saw action in numerous battles against the French and Spanish navies across 60 years and three separate wars. He was twice captured by the French in action, both times being exonerated and commended for the defence of his ships against overwhelming odds.

Balchen died in the shipwreck of the 100-gun first-rate HMS Victory off the Casquets in the Channel Islands during operations to deter French blockading of Spanish and Portuguese ports during the War of the Austrian Succession. A capable and efficient officer, Balchen never found the wealth and prestige fellow officers secured in other commissions, a fact which remained a source of frustration to him until his elevation to knighthood shortly before his death.

Balchen was born in February 1670, the only surviving child of the yeoman gentleman, John Balchen, and his wife, Ann Edspur. Home educated, Balchen took a commission in the Royal Navy aged 15 and, seven years later, gained promotion to lieutenant. For most of this period Balchen was stationed in the West Indies and, during his service there, was lucky in his health; the West Indies command was considered very dangerous during this period, mortality rates amongst sailors stationed there being very high due to malaria and yellow fever. The high death rate led to rapid promotion for those who survived, and Balchen was made Post Captain at the relatively young age of 27 during the Nine Years' War. Balchen had spent the war aboard HMS Dragon and HMS Cambridge under Admiral John Neville, who was impressed enough with his subordinate to give him command of the prize ship HMS Virgin, the safe conduct of which to England earned him the step to captain.