Richard Worsam Meade
Encyclopedia
Richard Worsam Meade III (also called Richard Worsam Meade, Jr., by many sources) (9 October 1837 – 4 May 1897) was an officer in the United States Navy
during the American Civil War
.
, he was the son of Captain
Richard Worsam Meade II
, USN, and followed his father by entering the Navy on October 2, 1850.
He was attached to the steam frigate of the Mediterranean Squadron in 1851-4, and the sailing frigate in the Home Squadron
in 1854-55, before attending the United States Naval Academy
in 1856. He was promoted to passed midshipman
on June 20, 1856. He served in the steam frigate
in 1856-1857, and off Africa
in 1857-1859 on board the corvette
and the sloop of war . Promoted to Lieutenant on January 23, 1858, Meade was an officer of the steamer and sailing sloop of war , both units of the Pacific Squadron
, during 1859-1861.
After returning to the East Coast from the Pacific in mid-1861, Lieutenant Meade was hospitalized for a few months for a tropical illness, then provided gunnery instruction to volunteer officers as the Navy expanded to meet the challenges of the American Civil War
. In January 1862 he became Executive Officer of the steam sloop and later held the same position on the new gunboat .
Promoted to Lieutenant-Commander on July 16, 1862, Meade's subsequent Civil War service was distinguished, including participation in the suppression of the July 1863 New York Draft Riots
, plus active combat and blockade enforcement work while commanding the Mississippi River
ironclad in the latter part of 1862 and the gunboats in South Carolina
waters in 1863-1864 and in the Gulf of Mexico
during 1864-1865.
Meade's post-Civil War career marked him as one of the Navy's most prominent reformist and technologically-minded officers. Duty at the Naval Academy in 1865-1868 was followed by promotion to Commander and service along the Alaska
n coast as Commanding Officer of the steamer . In 1871-1873 he took on a lengthy diplomatic and information-gathering cruise through the south Pacific. During the rest of the 1870s he served ashore at Washington, D.C.
, and New York. He attained the rank of Captain while commanding in the North Atlantic and West Indies in 1879-1882, then had additional shore duty and commanded the new dispatch vessel . Captain Meade was Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard
in 1887-1890. Promoted to Commodore in 1892 and Rear Admiral two years later, his final service was as commander of the North Atlantic Squadron
in 1894-1895.
Meade's early retirement in May 1895 followed a series of disagreements with the Navy Department. An article in the New York Tribune
reported Meade as criticizing President Grover Cleveland
, and quoted the sentence "I am an American and a Union man, two things this administration can't stand."
Rear Admiral Meade died in Washington, D.C.
, on 4 May 1897 after complications following an operation for appendicitis
. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
alongside his brother, Lieutenant Commander Henry Meigs Meade, USN.
His wife, Rebecca Paulding, was the daughter of Rear Admiral Hiram Paulding
.
, USMC. They were nephews of General George Gordon Meade
.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Biography
Born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, he was the son of Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
Richard Worsam Meade II
Richard Worsam Meade II
Richard Worsam Meade II was an officer in the United States Navy....
, USN, and followed his father by entering the Navy on October 2, 1850.
He was attached to the steam frigate of the Mediterranean Squadron in 1851-4, and the sailing frigate in the Home Squadron
Home Squadron
The Home Squadron was part of the United States Navy in the mid-19th century. Organized as early as 1838, ships were assigned to protect coastal commerce, aid ships in distress, suppress piracy and the slave trade, make coastal surveys, and train ships to relieve others on distant stations...
in 1854-55, before attending the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1856. He was promoted to passed midshipman
Passed midshipman
A Passed Midshipman, sometimes called as Midshipman, Passed, is an unused and historic term which describes a Midshipman who had passed the Lieutenant exam and was eligible for promotion to Lieutenant as soon as there was a vacancy in that grade....
on June 20, 1856. He served in the steam frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
in 1856-1857, and off Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
in 1857-1859 on board the corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
and the sloop of war . Promoted to Lieutenant on January 23, 1858, Meade was an officer of the steamer and sailing sloop of war , both units of the Pacific Squadron
Pacific Squadron
The Pacific Squadron was part of the United States Navy squadron stationed in the Pacific Ocean in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Initially with no United States ports in the Pacific, they operated out of storeships which provided naval supplies and purchased food and obtained water from local...
, during 1859-1861.
After returning to the East Coast from the Pacific in mid-1861, Lieutenant Meade was hospitalized for a few months for a tropical illness, then provided gunnery instruction to volunteer officers as the Navy expanded to meet the challenges of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. In January 1862 he became Executive Officer of the steam sloop and later held the same position on the new gunboat .
Promoted to Lieutenant-Commander on July 16, 1862, Meade's subsequent Civil War service was distinguished, including participation in the suppression of the July 1863 New York Draft Riots
New York Draft Riots
The New York City draft riots were violent disturbances in New York City that were the culmination of discontent with new laws passed by Congress to draft men to fight in the ongoing American Civil War. The riots were the largest civil insurrection in American history apart from the Civil War itself...
, plus active combat and blockade enforcement work while commanding the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
ironclad in the latter part of 1862 and the gunboats in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
waters in 1863-1864 and in the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
during 1864-1865.
Meade's post-Civil War career marked him as one of the Navy's most prominent reformist and technologically-minded officers. Duty at the Naval Academy in 1865-1868 was followed by promotion to Commander and service along the Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
n coast as Commanding Officer of the steamer . In 1871-1873 he took on a lengthy diplomatic and information-gathering cruise through the south Pacific. During the rest of the 1870s he served ashore at Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and New York. He attained the rank of Captain while commanding in the North Atlantic and West Indies in 1879-1882, then had additional shore duty and commanded the new dispatch vessel . Captain Meade was Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard
Washington Navy Yard
The Washington Navy Yard is the former shipyard and ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy...
in 1887-1890. Promoted to Commodore in 1892 and Rear Admiral two years later, his final service was as commander of the North Atlantic Squadron
North Atlantic Squadron
The North Atlantic Squadron was a section of the United States Navy operating in the North Atlantic. It was renamed as the North Atlantic Fleet in 1902. In 1905 the European and South Atlantic Squadrons were abolished and absorbed into the North Atlantic Fleet. On Jan...
in 1894-1895.
Meade's early retirement in May 1895 followed a series of disagreements with the Navy Department. An article in the New York Tribune
New York Tribune
The New York Tribune was an American newspaper, first established by Horace Greeley in 1841, which was long considered one of the leading newspapers in the United States...
reported Meade as criticizing President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
, and quoted the sentence "I am an American and a Union man, two things this administration can't stand."
Rear Admiral Meade died in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, on 4 May 1897 after complications following an operation for appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
alongside his brother, Lieutenant Commander Henry Meigs Meade, USN.
His wife, Rebecca Paulding, was the daughter of Rear Admiral Hiram Paulding
Hiram Paulding
Hiram Paulding was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, who served from the War of 1812 until after the Civil War.-Naval career:...
.
Namesakes
Two ships have been named for him and his brother, Brigadier General Robert Leamy MeadeRobert Leamy Meade
Robert Leamy Meade was an officer in the United States Marine Corps during the American Civil War, Spanish-American War and Boxer Rebellion....
, USMC. They were nephews of General George Gordon Meade
George Meade
George Gordon Meade was a career United States Army officer and civil engineer involved in coastal construction, including several lighthouses. He fought with distinction in the Second Seminole War and Mexican-American War. During the American Civil War he served as a Union general, rising from...
.