US Congressman. He enlisted for the Revolution and was commissioned as a Lieutenant, serving in New Jersey with the Continental Army and the Virginia Militia during the siege of Savannah, Georgia. Meriwether settled on a plantation in Wilkes County (later Clarke County), Georgia. Having remained active in the militia, in 1797 he was appointed commander of the Third Division with the rank of Brigadier General. He also served several terms in the Georgia House of Representatives and was Speaker from 1797 to 1800. In 1802 he was elected to the US House of Representatives to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Benjamin Taliaferro. Meriwether was subsequently elected to two full terms and served from December, 1802 to March, 1807. During his House service he was also a federal Commissioner appointed to negotiate with the Creek Indians, a role in which he served during several other negotiations. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1806 and lived in retirement at his plantation near Athens. Meriwether County, Georgia is named for him. In 2008 the Meriwether Society and the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution placed a new grave marker at his burial site. His son James Meriwether and several other relatives including James Archibald Meriwether and David Meriwether also served in Congress.
US Congressman. He enlisted for the Revolution and was commissioned as a Lieutenant, serving in New Jersey with the Continental Army and the Virginia Militia during the siege of Savannah, Georgia. Meriwether settled on a plantation in Wilkes County (later Clarke County), Georgia. Having remained active in the militia, in 1797 he was appointed commander of the Third Division with the rank of Brigadier General. He also served several terms in the Georgia House of Representatives and was Speaker from 1797 to 1800. In 1802 he was elected to the US House of Representatives to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Benjamin Taliaferro. Meriwether was subsequently elected to two full terms and served from December, 1802 to March, 1807. During his House service he was also a federal Commissioner appointed to negotiate with the Creek Indians, a role in which he served during several other negotiations. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1806 and lived in retirement at his plantation near Athens. Meriwether County, Georgia is named for him. In 2008 the Meriwether Society and the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution placed a new grave marker at his burial site. His son James Meriwether and several other relatives including James Archibald Meriwether and David Meriwether also served in Congress.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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