JOUKXAL OF PKOCEEI)IN(;S. XV 



He was born on tho 'M of .M:iy, ISKJ, at Augusta, (ia., where his father, Charh's 

 D. Meigs, afterwards the einineut physk-iaJi and autlior of IMiihuhslphia, was then 

 practieiug medicine. After preliminary studies at the University of Pennsylvanin, 

 he entered the Military Academy at West l*oint on the 1st of .Inly, \H'.i2, and was 

 graduated with distinction in 1836. He was ;it once appointed to a position in the 

 artillery service, and in the following year was transferred to the Corps of Engi- 

 neers. In 1849 he was engaged in the P^ngineer Bureau at Washington, and from 

 that time until the outbreak of the civil war his activity was principally directed 

 to the construction of (iovernment works. Toward the close of 1852 he made a sur- 

 vey at Washington to determine the best plan for supjilying the (uty with w;(ter. 

 He was eventually i)laced in charge of the work, which included the designing and 

 construction oi" the Potomac ac([ueduct. This remarkable work contains a single 

 arch of 220 feet span, wliich still remains the largest stone arch hitherto constructed. 



He also had charge, as supervising engineer, of the north and south extensions 

 of the National Capitol and of the construction of the iron dome, as well as of the 

 northward extension of the General Post-Office building. 



When the war broke out he was appointed colonel of the Eleventh Infantry 

 (May 14, 1861) and afterwards quartermaster-general of the LI. 8. Army, with the 

 rank of brigadier-general. This post required unusual administrative ability, with 

 a probity which conunanded general recognition, and it was becaus(s of his high 

 integrity and the strength of his personal character, as well as his acknowledged 

 capacity for business, that he was entrusted with the handling and use of hundreds 

 of millions of dollars in the greatest war ever waged. 



This is not the jjlaee to recount liis military services. 'I'hey were numerous and 

 admirably discharged. His duties took him to all parts of the country, conuectiid 

 him with many fields of labor, and (sngaged him on the most varied commissions. 

 Suffice it to say tliat he fully justiiied the conlidence imposed in him liy President 

 Lincoln, performing with signal ability the duties entrnstt'd to him. In 1864 he 

 received the well earned title of brevet major-general in the Army. 



ICvcn during tlie jjeriod of his service in the Army he was eng.iged in other occu- 

 pations; rendering the Smithsonian Institution most im|>ortant service in 1S76 by 

 devising the new building for the National Museum, a marvel of economic desigTi. 



While still full (tf vigor (ien. Meigs was retired from active service (tn the 6tli 

 of February, 1882, by the inexoiable law whicli makes the grand eliniaeterie tlu' 

 period avIicu military inaction begins. But he was by no means idle. He signalized 

 his talent as an architect l)y the construction of the Pension-Ottice l)uilding at 

 Washington between the years 1SS2 and 1SS7. 



He was elected a fellow of the National Academy of Sciences in l8fi.T, and a regent 

 of the Smithsonian Instittition, as a "citizen of Washington," and directly upon his 

 entrance into the board, December 2G, 1885, became an active member of its Exe(!U- 

 tive Committee, llv was always ]»resent, extremely i)ainstakiug, and eminently 

 judicious in his counsel and judgment on imi)ortant points of business and policy. 

 He had just been nominated as regent for another term of six years when he was 

 taken away from us by sudden illness (.January 2, 1892). 



He was eminent as a soldier, as a scientitie investigator, as a public-spirited citi- 

 zen, and as a man. Industrious and exact in business, he knew no idle time. He 

 was a busy man even when he 8i)ent a year in Euro])C for his health in 1X67 and 

 1868, as well as on his visit th(!r(^ in 1875 on (rovernment service. 



Few regents havt; been of such importance to the Institution as (ien. Meigs, .and 

 it is fitting that we shr)uld record our tribute (d' thankfulness for his <'minent serv- 

 ices and our great sorrow at his loss. He Avas a man faithful in all things, who has 

 left behind him an enduring reputation. 



Senator Gibson moved the adoption of the moiiioriiil iiiid iliat ;i coi).;' 

 thereof should be sent to tlie laniilv of (Jen. Meias, wliich was carried. 



