John Balchen, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

John Balchen

Eighteenth century British admiral

Date of Birth: 02-Feb-1670

Place of Birth: Godalming, England, United Kingdom

Date of Death: 04-Oct-1744

Profession: naval officer

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Admiral of the White 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.



Alternative names	Jonathan Richardson the Elder
Description	British art collector, painter, etcher and drawer student of John Riley, teacher of Thomas Hudson, teacher of Joshua Reynolds
Date of birth/death	12 January 1667	28 May 1745
Location of birth/death	West Country	Bloomsbury
Work location	London
Authority control	: Q1703287 VIAF: 34528928 ISNI: 0000 0000 8113 3382 ULAN: 500020436 LCCN: n50044694 Open Library: OL863558A WorldCat