Meade, George G. major-general, was born at Cadiz, Spain, during the consulship of his father at that port, in 1815. At an early age he was sent to the boys' school in Washington, D. C., at that time kept by Salmon P. Chase, afterward chief-justice of the United States supreme court. Subsequently he attended the military academy near Philadelphia, and in 1831, entered the academy at West Point, whence he graduated in 1835, as brevet second lieutenant of the 3d artillery. The same year he was made second lieutenant, and served in Florida in the Seminole war. The state of his health induced him to resign his commission in 1836, and he became a civil engineer, but, in 1842, he again entered the army, as second lieutenant in the corps of topographical engineers, and in that capacity served in the Mexican war. During this campaign he was attached to the staff of Gen. Taylor, and afterward to that of Gen. Scott distinguishing himself at Palo Alto and Monterey, and receiving, as an acknowledgment of his gallantry, a brevet of first lieutenant, dated Sept 23, 1846, and also upon his return to Philadelphia, a splendid sword from his townsmen. During the interim between the Mexican war and the Civil war, having been promoted to a full first lieutenancy in Aug., 1851, and to a captaincy of engineers in May, 1855, he was engaged in the particular duties of his department, more especially in the survey of the northern lakes; but upon the call of the government for men in 1861, he was ordered to report at Washington, and upon the organization of the Pennsylvania reserve corps, was made a brigadier-general of volunteers and assigned the command of the 2nd brigade, his commission dating Aug. 31, 1861. During the Seven Days' battles Gen. Meade was severely wounded, but soon recovered and, in Sept., 1862, took command of a division in Reynolds' 1st army corps, which he conducted with great skill and bravery during the Maryland campaign. At Antietam, when Gen. Hooker was wounded, Gen. Meade was placed in command of the corps and fought bravely the remainder of the day, receiving a slight wound and having two horses killed under him. He received the appointment of major-general of volunteers on Nov. 29, and took part in the battle of Fredericksburg, displaying courage and coolness during the engagement. In June, 1863, when Lee was advancing up the Shenandoah valley to invade Maryland and Pennsylvania, Gen. Meade was suddenly and unexpectedly called to succeed Gen. Hooker in the command of the Army of the Potomac, and he displayed masterly ability throughout the three days' battle of Gettysburg. Following this engagement, about July 18, he moved his army across the Potomac into Virginia, where he had several skirmishes with the enemy in October and November, and he was in command of the Army of the Potomac during the operations against Richmond in 1864. On June 18, 1862, Gen. Meade was promoted to the rank of major of engineers in the regular army, and on July 3, 1863, was advanced by the several grades of lieutenant-colonel and colonel to the brigadier-generalship in the regular army. During the session of 1863-64 he received the thanks of Congress, and was on Feb. 1, 1865, promoted a major-general in the regular army, his commission dating from Aug. 18, 1864. In the reconstruction of the military divisions after the war, Gen. Meade was given the command of the division of the Atlantic, with headquarters at Philadelphia, where he resided in the house presented to his wife by his fellow-citizens, in grateful recognition of his eminent services. He died at this residence in Philadelphia, Nov. 6, 1872.