Stephen Bloomer Balch
Encyclopedia
The Reverend Stephen Bloomer Balch (April 5, 1747 – September 7, 1833) was a Presbyterian minister and educator in Georgetown
, which is now part of Washington, D.C.
. In 1780, Balch established Georgetown Presbyterian Church, which was the second church in Georgetown. He also served as headmaster of the Columbian Academy in Georgetown.
. He attended the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University
), where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1774. Soon thereafter, he became principal of the Lower Marlborough Academy in Calvert County in southern Maryland. Balch also served in the American Revolutionary War
.
), which was used during the week as a school. Around this time, Balch also became headmaster of the Columbian Academy in Georgetown, which is where George Washington
sent his nephews.
A building was constructed for the church on Bridge Street at Washington Street (30th Street) in 1782. The church was expanded in 1793 and again in 1801, but the size was still insufficient. A new structure was built in 1821, and the church later relocated to P Street the 1870s. Many notable residents of Washington and Georgetown attended the church. Balch preached to a large crowd after George Washington died.
. Balch had a home built in 1773 on Duck Lane (now 33rd Street). Balch also owned an island in the Potomac River
, as well as a 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) farm outside of Washington. He spent the later years of his life living at 3302 N Street.
His wife died in 1827, and he soon remarried at the age of 82 to Elizabeth. After she died, he married again to Jane Parrott. Balch remained the pastor of Georgetown Presbyterian Church until his death in 1833. Balch was buried on the grounds of the church, but his remains were moved to Oak Hill Cemetery in 1878 when the church relocated and the building on Bridge Street was demolished.
Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown is a neighborhood located in northwest Washington, D.C., situated along the Potomac River. Founded in 1751, the port of Georgetown predated the establishment of the federal district and the City of Washington by 40 years...
, which is now part of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. In 1780, Balch established Georgetown Presbyterian Church, which was the second church in Georgetown. He also served as headmaster of the Columbian Academy in Georgetown.
Early life
Balch was born on April 5, 1747 in MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. He attended the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
), where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1774. Soon thereafter, he became principal of the Lower Marlborough Academy in Calvert County in southern Maryland. Balch also served in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Georgetown Presbyterian Church
In 1779, Balch was ordained as minister by the Presbyterian church. After that, he arrived in Georgetown and briefly preached at the Georgetown Lutheran Church. In 1780, he began preaching out of a small house near Bridge Street (now M StreetM Street
M Street can refer to the following streets:*M Street , in Washington, D.C.*M Street in Boston, Massachusetts*M Street in Sacramento, California...
), which was used during the week as a school. Around this time, Balch also became headmaster of the Columbian Academy in Georgetown, which is where George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
sent his nephews.
A building was constructed for the church on Bridge Street at Washington Street (30th Street) in 1782. The church was expanded in 1793 and again in 1801, but the size was still insufficient. A new structure was built in 1821, and the church later relocated to P Street the 1870s. Many notable residents of Washington and Georgetown attended the church. Balch preached to a large crowd after George Washington died.
Personal life
In 1782, Balch married Elizabeth Beall, who was the daughter of George BeallGeorge Beall
George Beall was a wealthy landowner in Maryland and Georgetown in what is now Washington, D.C..Beall's Levels and Rock of Dunbarton, part of his landholdings, were surveyed in 1752 as a possible site for George Town . Maryland offered Beall two lots in the town, along with the "price of...
. Balch had a home built in 1773 on Duck Lane (now 33rd Street). Balch also owned an island in the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
, as well as a 10 acres (40,468.6 m²) farm outside of Washington. He spent the later years of his life living at 3302 N Street.
His wife died in 1827, and he soon remarried at the age of 82 to Elizabeth. After she died, he married again to Jane Parrott. Balch remained the pastor of Georgetown Presbyterian Church until his death in 1833. Balch was buried on the grounds of the church, but his remains were moved to Oak Hill Cemetery in 1878 when the church relocated and the building on Bridge Street was demolished.