Richard Kidder Meade, Jr. (July 29, 1803 – April 20, 1862) was Virginia lawyer, plantation owner and politician who served in the Virginia Senate and in the United States House of Representatives, as well as U.S. minister to Brazil under President James Buchanan before returning to Virginia to work for the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War until his death.
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Early and family life
Meade was born in what was then Frederick County in the state's northwestern corner, the son of Mary Fitzhugh Grymes Randolph and her husband Richard Kidder Meade. Both his grandfathers as well as great grandfathers were from far to the southeast, and Meade would represent Southside Virginia in the Virginia senate. His ancestor Andrew Meade had emigrated from Ireland possibly with his son David Meade (circa 1710-1757), who settled in Nansemond County and whose sons became prominent patriots. His grandfather David Meade (Jr.) (1744 - after 1796) served in the House of Burgesses after troubleshooting problems in his local parish, then assisted the patriot cause by providing provisions while his brothers fought as officers and served as aides to General Washington. David Meade owned slaves in Nansemond County, in 1787 (and possibly others in Elizabeth City County), and ultimately moved to Jessamine County, Kentucky (where he died). Like his younger brother Everard Meade, who settled in Amelia County after his Revolutionary service, Meade's father was educated at Harrow in England. His paternal grandmother Susana Everard was the daughter of North Carolina's governor Sir Richard Everard, 4th Baronet. His brother William Meade remained in Frederick County and became the Episcopal Bishop of Virginia. Both boys had private tutors, as befit their class. Meade also studied law.