George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Major-General United States Army
George Gordon Meade, Ed.

He was prominent on all public and social occasions, though it is believed that the only public office he ever held was that of member of the common council in 1789-91. He held, however, many positions of trust and confidence, and was one of the original promoters and vice-president of the institution of First Day (or Sunday) schools, the Rev. Dr. White, afterward Bishop White, being the president. A stanch Roman Catholic, and deeply interested in the welfare of his church, he was mainly instrumental in the building of Saint Mary's Church, of which he was one of the original trustees and a constant attendant, his wife being equally devoted to the Church of England. He and Thomas Fitzsimons were among the original members of the Society of the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick, a social organization which existed in Philadelphia between the years 1771 and 1798, organized by native-born Irishmen or their sons, on the rolls of which society were to be found the names of General Washington, General Anthony Wayne, Commodore Barry, the Cadwaladers, Richard Peters, Robert Morris, General William Irvine, General Stephen Moylan, and many others of that day, distinguished in the history of their country.

At the close of the Revolution, and upon the revival of commerce in America, the firm of George Meade & Co. took a high position among the substantial mercantile houses for which Philadelphia was noted. Its vessels were to be found in all foreign ports, and it became the agent for some of the largest houses in London.

George Meade's children were ten in number, five sons and five daughters. Two of the latter married brothers, Thomas and John Ketland, sons of Thomas Ketland, of Birmingham, England, who were engaged in business in Philadelphia for some years after the Revolution. Neither left any descendants. Another of the daughters married William Hustler, also an Englishman, whose descendants now live at Acklam Hall, Middlesborough-on-Tees, Yorkshire, England. The remaining children, with the exception of one son, died in early life and unmarried.

This son was Richard Worsam Meade, the father of the subject of these memoirs. He was born in 1778 in Chester County, Pennsylvania, where the family was temporarily residing, having, with many others, removed from Philadelphia upon the occupation of that place by the British army under General Howe.

After a thorough education and careful preliminary training, Richard Worsam Meade entered his father's counting-house, where he