General Sir Richard John Meade, KCSI, CIE (25 September 1821 – 20 March 1894) was born at Innishannon County Cork to Captain John Meade of the Royal Navy and Elizabeth Quin.
He studied at the Royal Naval School at New Cross in London, after which he received his commission as ensign, being posted to the 65th. Regiment Native Infantry of the Bengal Army. He was part of the Central India Field Force during the troubles of 1857-59 and led the column which captured Tantya Tope and hanged him.
After this, he was mostly in political employment, working at Gwalior, Indore, Mysore, Baroda and Hyderabad. After retirement, he functioned as Chairman of the Hyderabad State Railway Company. He died at Hyeres in France, aged 73 where he was buried. His grave bears : "After serving his country for 43 years in India, he returned to England and died at Hyères 20th march 1894"
His biography was written by an Indian civil servant, Thomas Henry Thornton, and published in 1898.
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Lewin Bowring |
Chief Commissioner of Coorg 1870–1876 |
Succeeded by Charles Saunders |