A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Meade, John
MEADE. (Commander, 1812. f-p., 16; h-p., 35.)
John Meade, born 2 March, 1782, is son of the Rev. Rich. Meade, by Hon. Mary De Courcy, daughter of John, 25th Lord Kinsale, and sister of Admiral Hon. Michael De Courcy.
This officer entered the Navy, 1 Sept. 1796, as Midshipman, on board the Magnanime of 48 guns, commanded by his uncle, Capt. Hon. M. De Courcy, under whom, besides contributing to the capture of several privateers, he assisted at the taking, off Cape Finisterre, 24 Aug. 1798, of La Décade French frigate of 36 guns, and at the defeat, 12 Oct. following, of the squadron under Commodore Bompart intended for the invasion of Ireland. Removing, as Master’s Mate, in the early part of 1799, to the Canada 74, commanded at first by Capt. De Courcy and next by Capt. Joseph Sydney Yorke, he was on board that ship in the winter of 1800-1, when she had the fortune, at much risk to herself, of saving the Mars 74, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Edw. Thornbrough, from being wrecked on the rocks to the eastward of Ushant. On 20 Nov. 1802, a few months previously to which period he had joined the Leander 50, bearing the flag at Halifax of Sir Andrew Mitchell, Mr. Meade was there nominated Acting-Lieutenant of the Cambrian 40, Capts. Jas. Bradley and John Poo Beresford; to which ship he was confirmed 19 April, 1803. After he had again, for fifteen months, served under Sir A. Mitchell in the Leander, he obtained, 19 Aug. 1806, an appointment to the Leopard 50, Capt. Salusbury Pryce Humphreys, also on the Halifax station; where, on 22 June, 1807, he assisted in enforcing the surrender of the U.S. frigate Chesapeake, in consequence of a refusal on the part of the latter to allow the British to search her for deserters. He subsequently, from May, 1808, until advanced to his present rank, 4 Nov. 1812, officiated as Flag-Lieutenant to his uncle in the Tonnant 80, Diana 38, and Foudroyant. He assisted, in the Tonnant, at the embarkation of the army after the battle of Corunna in Jan. 1809; and was employed in the other ships on the Brazilian station.
Cominander Meade married, 19 Sept. 1814, Miss Elizabeth Hutchinson Quin, and by that lady has issue ten children.