George Meade (31 Dec. 1815-6 Nov. 1872) Graduated from West Point in 1835. At the outset of the Civil War, he accepted a commission as brigadier general of volunteers with the Union Army. He was put in command of the Army of the Potomac by Abraham Lincoln in 1863. He is best known for defeating Confederate General Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, for which he received the official Thanks of Congress.
