author
Thomas Balch
1821–1877
A 19th-century American historian and lawyer, he is best remembered for his detailed work on the Revolutionary War and for writing about the French role in American independence.
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About the author
Born in Leesburg, Virginia, on July 23, 1821, Thomas Balch became an American historian, lawyer, and public figure whose writing focused on the history of the United States and its international connections. He studied at Columbia, later read law in New York, and was admitted to the bar before settling in Philadelphia.
Balch is best known for his work on the American Revolutionary War, especially his history of the French contribution to the struggle for independence. He first wrote that study in French, and it later appeared in English as The French in America during the War of Independence of the United States, 1777–1783. His interests also extended to public affairs and international questions, reflecting a serious interest in diplomacy and law as well as history.
He died in Philadelphia on March 29, 1877. Today, he is remembered as a careful 19th-century historian whose work helped preserve the transatlantic story of the American Revolution.