John Baptiste de Barth Walbach | |
|---|---|
 Gen. John de Barth Walbach, Ft Monroe, Old Point Comfort, Virginia, 1846 | |
| Born | October 3, 1766[1] Munster, Haut-Rhin, Alsace, France[1] |
| Died | June 10, 1857 (aged 90)[1] Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Spouse | Mary Louise Harberger[2] |
| Children | Therese de Barth Walbach, Louisa de Barth Walbach, Capt. Louis Augustus de Barth Walbach, Marie Adelphine Theresa de Barth Walbach, Lieut. John J. de Barth Walbach[2] |
John Baptiste de Barth Walbach (October 3,[1] 1766 – June 10, 1857) was an Alsatian baron who fought in the French Revolutionary Wars, and was one of the few foreign-born senior officers in the United States Army prior to the American Civil War, attaining the rank of brevet brigadier general.
After immigrating to the United States to join his father, Walbach became an aide to Alexander Hamilton, rising to Adjutant General of the United States during the War of 1812. With a military career spanning over 57 years, he remained in active duty until his death at the age of 90, making him the oldest acting officer in U.S. history. During his long career he commanded most forts along the eastern seaboard: Fort Constitution, Fort Trumbull, Fort Severn, Fort Monroe, Frankford Arsenal, Fort McHenry, and Fort Pickens.[1] Many American place names are in his honor, including Fort Walbach.