The decomposition rate of benzylamine (C6H5CH2NH2) and the heat of formation of the benzyl radical (C6H5CH2) were determined in shock tube experiments combined with RRKM calculations. To obtain the decomposition rate of benzylaniine, the NH2 Mole fraction was measured using frequency-modulation absorption spectroscopy behind reflected shock waves. The initial slope of the NH2 concentration is directly proportional to the decomposition rate and the initial concentration of benzylamine. The rate expression for the decomposition reaction for the temperature range 1225-1599 K and the pressure range 1.19-1.47 bar is k(1) = (5.49 x 10(14))e(-33110/[T(K)]) s(-1) with an uncertainty of 15%. To obtain the high-pressure-limit rate expression for benzylamine decomposition, we performed RRKM calculations using the parameters obtained from the experimental data of this study and those of the VLPP study of Golden et al.(4) The resulting high-pressure-limit rate for the temperature range 1000-1600 K is k(infinity) = (1.07 x 10(16.0))e(-36470/[T(K)]) s(-1). From the RRKM calculations, we determined the C-N bond dissociation energy of benzylamine at 0 K to be 305 +/- 4 kJ mol(-1), and with this value and the thermochemical properties of benzylamine and NH2, the heat of formation of the benzyl radical was calculated. The heat of formation of benzyl radical at 298 K is 210 :L 5 kJ mol-1, which agrees with the result of Ellison et al.(5) and the value recommended by Tsang.(6).