Brigadier General James Meade was a prominent officer in the United States Army during the American Civil War. He is best known for his leadership at the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, where his forces successfully defeated the Confederate Army led by General Robert E. Lee. This victory was a turning point in the war and significantly boosted Union morale. Meade was born on December 31, 1815, in Cádiz, Spain, and later moved to the United States. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served in various military roles before the Civil War. After Gettysburg, he continued to command Union forces until the end of the war, earning a reputation for his strategic skills and dedication.