Master Surname Index



George Meade

Ancestry of Maj. Gen.
George Meade

Union Army - U.S. Civil War


Who was Major General George Meade?

Born on December 31, 1815, in Cádiz, Spain, George Gordon Meade came from a privileged Philadelphia family. His military journey began at the United States Military Academy, where he graduated in 1835. Little did he know that his path would intersect with one of the most critical moments in American history.

Meade’s early career included service during the Mexican-American War, where he oversaw coastal survey and construction projects. However, it was during the Civil War that he truly made his mark. Initially a brigadier general in the Union army’s Eastern Theater, Meade faced immense challenges.

His defining moment arrived in July 1863 at the Battle of Gettysburg. As commander of the Army of the Potomac, Meade confronted General Robert E. Lee’s Confederate forces. The stakes were high—the outcome could sway the war’s trajectory. Meade’s strategic positioning and effective defense turned the tide. Despite criticism from President Abraham Lincoln, his victory at Gettysburg was a turning point.

Meade’s legacy extends beyond that fateful battle. He remains the last commander of the Army of the Potomac, a symbol of resilience and leadership. On November 6, 1872, he passed away, leaving behind a nation forever changed by his actions.


Some of the most recently added connections of famous kin for Maj. Gen. George Meade

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Admiral Richard Worsam Meade III

Union Navy - U.S. Civil War

Nephew
via Richard Worsam Meade

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Parker Stevenson

TV and Movie Actor

3rd great-grandson

View entire list of famous kin for George Meade

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