 His siblings were Costache, Barbu, Sevasta and Marghioala, and his father died in 1824.As a boy, Bălcescu studied at the Saint Sava College (from 1832), and was a passionate student of history.At the age of 19, he joined the Wallachian Army, and, in 1840, took part, alongside Eftimie Murgu and Cezar Bolliac, in Mitică Filipescu's conspiracy against Prince Alexandru II Ghica.