Robert Leamy Meade

Robert Leamy Meade
Born December 25, 1842
Washington, D.C.
Died February 11, 1910 (aged 67)
Lexington, Massachusetts
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch  United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1862–1906
Rank Brevet Brigadier General
Battles/wars American Civil War
Spanish–American War
Boxer Rebellion
Relations Richard Worsam Meade II (father)
George Meade (uncle)
Richard Worsam Meade (brother)

Robert Leamy Meade (December 25, 1842 – February 11, 1910) was an officer in the United States Marine Corps during the American Civil War, Spanish–American War and Boxer Rebellion. He was the nephew of Major General George G. Meade.

Biography

Meade was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Richard Worsam Meade II, an officer in the United States Navy. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on 14 June 1862, and commanded a battalion of marines during the suppression of the New York City draft riots in July 1863. He took part in the daring boat attack against Fort Sumter on 8 September 1863, and was later brevetted for gallant and meritorious service.

During the Spanish–American War he served as fleet Marine officer on the cruiser USS New York and participated in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba. Victor Maria Concas y Palau, captain of the cruiser Infanta Maria Teresa at the battle of Santiago, described the poor attitude of Meade to the Spanish prisoners at Portsmouth. He claimed that Meade's attitude was responsible of the death of several sailors, as he did not allow them to have the adequate medical help, and that he also had a lack of respect for Spanish officers.[1]

Promoted to colonel on 3 March 1899, Meade served in China during the Boxer Rebellion and participated in the Battle of Tientsin. For distinguished conduct and public service, he was appointed brigadier general, by brevet, on July 13, 1900. He retired from the Marine Corps on June 29, 1906.

He was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and the Military Order of Foreign Wars.

General Meade died at Lexington, Massachusetts, on February 11, 1910. He is buried in Huntington Rural Cemetery in Huntington, New York.

Namesake

Two ships have been named USS Meade for him and his brother, Richard Worsam Meade. The sons of Richard Worsam Meade II, they were nephews of General George Gordon Meade.

References

  1. ↑ Concas y Palau, Victor (1998). La Escuadra Del Almirante Cervera (in Spanish). Madrid: San Martin. pp. 223–224. ISBN 978-84-7140-302-5.