Born in Cadiz, Spain. Graduated from West Point in 1835. Married Margaretta Sergeant in 1840. They had six children. He went to Florida briefly for the Seminole Wars. He resigned from the army in 1836 to do engineering work for the Alabama, Florida & Georgia Railroad.

In 1842 he returned to the army as a second lieutenant. In 1861 he was appointed brigadier general of Pennsylvania volunteers. He took part in McClellan's Peninsular Campaign in 1862 and was wounded at Frayser's Farm. In August he commanded a brigade at the second battle of Bull Run. At Antietam General Hooker was wounded and Meade took command of the 1st Corps. In November he was promoted to major general. Following the defeat at Fredericksburg he was given the command of the 5th Corps.

Lincoln relieved Hooker of his command June 28, 1863, after Chancellorville. Meade was given command of the Army of the Potomac. Three days later Meade came up against the forces of General Lee at Gettysburg. Meade won the battle but failed to follow through with an opportunity to chase Lee back south.

Congress gave Meade a vote of thanks in January 1864. In August he was promoted to Major General in the regular army.

Following the war Meade commanded the Military Division of the Atlantic, later the Department of the East and command of the Department of the South. He died in Philadelphia in 1872.

Meade appears on paper money:

$1000 Treasury Note, series of 1890 and 1891

Meade was honored by the Union League of Philadelphia with a 79 mm mint medal (Julian PE-20). Dies were by Anthony C. Paquet.

bio: ApCAB; DAB; Drake; EAB; Limpert; NCAB 4; TCBDA; WAB; WWWA-H