Read

The Read family consistently played an important role in American government and politics from the time that George Read, a Delaware resident, signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Throughout the 17th to 19th centuries, the Reads served as lawyers, judges, politicians, generals, consul-generals and foreign ministers.

John Read (1769-1854) was born on July 17, 1796 in New Castle, Delaware to George Read and Gertrude Ross Read. After graduating from the College of New Jersey in 1787 and studying law with his father, John worked as a lawyer; as agent general of the United States under Jay’s Treaty, a position for which he was appointed by President John Adams in 1797; city solicitor of Philadelphia; and member of common and select councils. During the War of 1812, John was “active in the defense of the Delaware against British invasion” (Reynolds, page 492). He served as a senator for Pennsylvania from 1816 to 1817 and was appointed, by the Pennsylvania Legislature, as the state director of the Philadelphia Bank. Later, he became president of the Philadelphia Bank. John’s brother, William Read, was a Philadelphia merchant who was involved in the China trade.

In 1796, John married Martha Meredith, the daughter of General Samuel Meredith who had served as the first treasurer of the United States. They had five children, three of whom survived infancy: John Meredith Read (1797-1874), Henry Meredith Read (1800-1826), and Margaret Meredith Read (1806-1854).

During the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia, John’s “humanity and philanthropy were manifest … [when] he contributed most liberally from his purse, and exposed his life throughout the whole course of the epidemic in behalf of his suffering fellowmen” (Reynolds, page 492). He was actively involved in the Protestant Episcopal Church and served as warden of Christ Church, St. Peter’s, and St. James. He died on July 13, 1854.

John Read’s son, John Meredith Read (-1874), was born on July 21, 1796 in Philadelphia. He was educated at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating “at the age of fifteen, was admitted to the bar in 1822, elected to the Pennsylvania legislature in 1822 and again in 1823” (Reynolds, page 493). Other positions held by John Meredith Read include city solicitor of Philadelphia and member of the select council, United States district attorney of the eastern district of Pennsylvania from 1837 to 1841, solicitor general of the treasury department, and attorney general of Pennsylvania from1845 to 1846. Politically, John Meredith Read veered from the family norm of Federalists, and instead participated in the founding of the “Free Soil” Democrats.

John Meredith Read opposed the extension of slavery in new states. As a result, when nominated to serve as judge of the United States Supreme Court, “southern senators opposed his confirmation,” (Reynolds, page 493). As the Republican Party formed, Read served as a founder and supporter of the party and in 1856, gave a speech entitled, “Power of Congress over Slavery in our Territories.” He was elected judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 1858, the same year that the Republican Party gained its first victory in Pennsylvania. He eventually became Chief Justice of Philadelphia.

John Meredith Read married Priscilla Marshall on March 20, 1828. They had two children who survived infancy: John Meredith Read (1837-1896) and Emily Marshal Read. Priscilla Marshall Read died on April 18, 1841. John Meredith Read later married Amelia Thompson in 1855.

John Meredith Read died on November 29, 1874. He was remembered as “a gentleman of the old school, of the highest sense of honor, of great dignity of character, and in social intercourse kind, affable and courteous … despising everything that was low and vile,” (Reynolds, page 493).

John Meredith Read Jr (1837-1896), son of John Meredith Read (1797-1874), was born on February 21, 1837. He was educated at military school and graduated from Brown University in 1859 and later from Albany Law School where he studied international and civil law. Although admitted to the Philadelphia Bar, John Meredith Read moved to Albany.

John Meredith Read’s military career was explosive in nature. According to Cuyler Reynolds, “while at Brown, he commanded a company of national cadets which afterwards furnished many commissioned officers to the United States Army during the rebellion; at twenty he was appointed aide-de-camp to the governor of Rhode Island, with the rank of colonel; at the age of twenty three, he was appointed adjutant general of New York, with the rank of brigadier general; [and] when Fort Sumter was fired upon, General Read was appointed chairman of a committee of three to draft a bill appropriating three million dollars for the purchase of arms and equipments” (Reynolds, page 494).

Politically, General Read supported Abraham Lincoln in 1860, in part by organizing the “Wide Awake” movement in New York; and later supported General Ulysses S. Grant for the presidency. President Grant appointed General Read consul general of the United States for France and Algeria. During the Franco-Prussian War, General Read acted as consul-general in Germany. In 1873, General Read was appointed to serve as the United States minister to Greece. In addition to serving as a diplomat, General Read also wrote and published many reports, public addresses, scholarly papers, and A Historical Inquiry Concerning Henry Hudson .

General Read married Delphine Marie Pumpelly on April 7, 1859 in Albany. They were the parents of four children: Harmon Pumpelly Read, John Meredith Read, Emily Meredith Read, and Marie Delphine Meredith Read. General Meredith died on December 27, 1896.

Harmon Pumpelly Read, born July 13, 1860 in Albany, was educated at the Albany Boys' Academy, St. John's Military Academy at Sing Sing, and Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. After graduating, Read traveled extensively through Europe. In 1882, he returned to Albany and entered the law office of Edward Wade; however, concerns regarding his health prevented him from practicing law. He then turned towards community and political activities and ran for the Assembly in the Third District (he was defeated), served as president of the Young Men's Association, and was nominated for alderman of the thirteenth ward (he declined). Read was interested in history and genealogy. Read married Marguerite de Carron on August 24, 1889.

Bibliography:

"Noted Living Albanians and State Officials." 1891.

Reynolds, Cuyler. Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs . New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1911

From the guide to the Read family papers, Bulk, 1792-1896, 1736-1896, (Library Company of Philadelphia)