Blake, Jacob Edward

Jacob Edward Blake (January 17, 1812 - May 9, 1846) was an American army officer and engineer. A native of Pennsylvania, Blake attended the United States Military Academy at West Point from July 1, 1829 until July 1, 1833, when he graduated and was commissioned as a brevet second lieutenant in the 6th U.S. Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to second lieutenant on July 31, 1836, and first lieutenant on September 6, 1837. He joined the newly created Corps of Topographical Engineers on July 7, 1838, where he would spend the rest of his U.S. Army career. He served in Florida during the Second Seminole War in 1838 and 1839, and then worked constructing harbors on Lake Erie from 1839 until 1841. Then, he was part of the team that surveyed the U.S.-Texas border in 1841 and 1842. Blake returned to Florida in 1842 to served on brevet Brigadier General William J. Worth's staff as the leader of its survey team. Blake worked on surveys of Florida for three years, until he was transferred to General Zachary Taylor's army in 1845. Blake served with distinction during the Mexican American War (1846 - 1848). In his official report, General Taylor mentioned Blake's daring reconnaissance of the Mexican lines before the Battle of Palo Alto (May 8, 1846). Blake spent nearly twenty-four hours in the saddle during and after the Battle of Palo Alto. After returning to camp, Blake was unsaddling his horse when his holsters hit the ground and his gun went off. The ball struck him, and he died a few hours later.