George Gordon Meade

Born:

December 31, 1815, Cádiz, Spain

Died:

November 6, 1872, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Nationality:

American

Profession(s):

United States Army Officer, Civil Engineer

Early Life and Education

• Born to American merchant Richard Worsam Meade and Margaret Coats Butler.
• Educated in private schools and later at Mount Hope Institution, a boarding school near Baltimore.
• Graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1835.

Career and Major Achievements

• Served in the United States Army Corps of Engineers after graduating from West Point.
• Participated in surveying and engineering projects, including lighthouse construction and coastal surveying.
• Rose through the ranks during the American Civil War.
• Commanded the Union Army of the Potomac from June 1863.
• Achieved a significant victory at the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863.
• Continuously commanded the Army of the Potomac through the end of the war, playing a key role in the Overland Campaign and the Siege of Petersburg.
• Accepted Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House in April 1865.
• Promoted to Major General in the Regular Army after the Civil War.

Notable Works

• "Report of the Battle of Gettysburg": A detailed account of the battle.
• Military surveys and engineering reports related to his service in the Army Corps of Engineers.

Legacy and Impact

George Gordon Meade is primarily remembered as the Union commander who decisively defeated Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg. Although frequently overshadowed by figures like Grant and Sherman, his strategic command was pivotal in securing a crucial Union victory. While specific "george meade quotes at gettysburg" are not widely known, his actions and decisions during those fateful days cemented his place in American military history.

Awards and Decorations

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