page_title: George Meade (merchant)
hierarchical_section_title: George Meade (merchant)
caption_attribution_description: English: “In 1789–90 there is reason to believe he made a visit to London ... It must have been about this time that his portrait was painted by the young and rising artist, Thomas Lawrence, afterwards celebrated as the President of the Royal Academy. The photograph of this portrait which accompanies this sketch hardly does justice to the painting, which is an exquisite specimen of color. Col. Frank M. Etting, in a letter to the author of this memoir, dated March 15, 1877, referring to the portrait of George Meade which had been loaned to the Historical Department of the International Exhibition of 1876, writes "The head of George Meade has been universally admired by the best judges - if premiums were awarded, it would have secured the very first as a work of art though Kneller, Lely, Stuart and West were all fairly represented. " According to the tradition received by the author this portrait was painted for John Barclay ... and subsequently came into the possession of Richard Worsam, son of George, from whom it descended to the present owner, the author of this memoir.” R.W. Meade III, "George Meade", p. 214
context_page_description: George Meade was an American merchant from Philadelphia, known for being the grandfather of Civil War general George Gordon Meade. In partnership with Thomas Fitzsimons, his firm was among the largest provision merchants during the American Revolutionary War, and helped finance the Bank of Pennsylvania and Bank of North America during the conflict—while it profited from British goods as well. Meade's business went bankrupt by 1801 due to investments in the Yazoo land scandal, and was continued by his son Richard W. Meade.
  Meade held minor city offices and was active in religious and civic life, among others serving as a trustee at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church and founding the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. Descendants amplified these accomplishments into a legendary patriotism, though his influence has been assessed more modestly by recent biographers.
context_section_description: George Meade (February 27, 1741 – November 9, 1808) was an American merchant from Philadelphia, known for being the grandfather of Civil War general George Gordon Meade. In partnership with Thomas Fitzsimons, his firm was among the largest provision merchants during the American Revolutionary War, and helped finance the Bank of Pennsylvania and Bank of North America during the conflict—while it profited from British goods as well. Meade's business went bankrupt by 1801 due to investments in the Yazoo land scandal, and was continued by his son Richard W. Meade.
  Meade held minor city offices and was active in religious and civic life, among others serving as a trustee at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church and founding the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. Descendants amplified these accomplishments into a legendary patriotism, though his influence has been assessed more modestly by recent biographers.
caption: Portrait by Thomas Lawrence, c. 1790
exif: {}