Meade

Meade, GEORGE GORDON, an American general, was born 31st December 1815, at Cadiz, in Spain, where his father was a merchant and United States navy agent till 1816. He graduated at West Point in 1835, served for a time against the Seminole and in the Mexican war, but was mostly employed on survey duty and in the construction of light-houses until the civil war, becoming captain of engineers in 1856, and major in 1862. In 1861 he obtained a brigade of volunteers, and during the peninsular campaign received a severe gunshot wound. He distinguished himself at Antietam and at Fredericksburg, and was promoted major-general in November 1862. In June 1863 he was placed in command of the Army of the Potomac, superseding Hooker (q.v.) on the night of the 27th. A week later Gettysburg had been fought, and Lee's effort to carry the war into the country north of the Potomac had been defeated. Meade became brigadier-general in the regular army on 3d July, and major-general in 1864. After the war he commanded various military departments, until his death, which occurred at Philadelphia, 6th November 1872. There is an equestrian statue of him (1887) in Fairmount Park there.