Branch was born in Halifax County, North Carolina, on November 4, 1782, the son of wealthy landowners.

Educated at the University of North Carolina, where he was a member of the Philanthropic Society, he occupied himself as a planter and civic leader.

He reduced the resources going to the construction of new ships, while increasing those applied to keeping existing vessels in good repair.

Branch also sent the frigate USS Potomac to the Far East to punish the murderers of a U.S. merchant ship's crew and to generally promote and protect American commerce in the region.

Later that year, Branch was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Jacksonian and later to North Carolina state political offices.