Robert Leamy Meade was an officer of the United States marine corps.
Background
Robert Leamy Meade was born on December 25, 1842 at Washington, District of Columbia. He was the son of Richard Worsam Meade, 1807-1870, of the United States navy, and Clara Forsyth (Meigs) Meade. Gen. George Gordon Meade, commander of the Union forces at Gettysburg, was his uncle, and Richard Worsam Meade, 1837-1897, a rear-admiral in the United States navy, was his brother.
Education
Meade received his early education at Mt. Saint Mary's College, Emmitsburg, Md. , and was graduated from the United States Naval Academy on September 30, 1856, with the rank of acting midshipman.
Career
Robert Leamy resigned his commission in the navy and until the outbreak of the Civil War served as watch-officer on the United States coast survey steamer, Bibb. Seeking active war service, he was on June 4, 1862, appointed a second lieutenant, United States marine corps, from the state of Tennessee, and in July of the following year commanded a company of marines engaged in quelling the New York draft riots. In August he accompanied the Federal expedition of combined land and naval forces against the forts guarding the city of Charleston, S. C. , and volunteered his services for the unsuccessful night attack upon Fort Sumter, September 8, 1863, in which he, with a number of others, was taken prisoner by the Confederates. As a prisoner of war, Meade remained in Charleston for some fifteen months, suffering the hardships of prison life until exchanged. For gallant and meritorious services in storming the forts, he received the brevet of first lieutenant. His regular promotion to that grade followed on April 2, 1864. The Civil War ended, Meade served on board the Shenandoah during an extended cruise to the Orient (1865 - 69), visiting India, China, Japan, and Korea in the interest of better international relations. During this cruise he surveyed some 2, 100 square miles of Korean territory, surveys later utilized by Admiral John Rodgers and his naval command in the occupation of the Korean capital. He was promoted captain, January 22, 1876, and served at Brooklyn and Philadelphia, on lake duty attached to the Michigan, as fleet marine officer on board the Hartford, at Boston, and at Pensacola, Floridaa. In April 1885 he accompanied the naval expedition to the Isthmus of Panama, having for its object the protection of the lives and property of American citizens endangered by the revolution. He commanded the marine barracks, Washington, D. C. , 1890-92, and on September 6, 1892, was promoted major. His lieutenant-colonelcy followed, August 10, 1898. During the Spanish-American War Meade served as fleet marine officer, on board the New York of Admiral Sampson's North Atlantic Squadron, and participated in the battle of Santiago-de-Cuba. Later he commanded a prison camp at Camp Long. He became a colonel, March 3, 1899, and the year following took part in the China Relief Expedition for the relief of the allied legations at Peking at the time of the Boxer Rebellion. For gallant conduct at the battle of Tientsin, China, he received the brevet of brigadier-general. He was retired from active service with the rank of brigadier-general, December 26, 1903, and died at his home, Lexington, Massachussets, some years later, after a prolonged illness. Interment was at Huntington, Long Island.
Achievements
Membership
a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, a member of the Military Order of Foreign Wars
Connections
Meade was married in New York City, February 6, 1865, to Mary, the daughter of Admiral Hiram Paulding, who with two sons and two daughters survived him.