Captain W. D. Meares
(1832-1907)
16 December 1862

Volume 10, page 3, sitting number 12,381.

[Identified as 'Captain Meares' in the Silvy daybooks, the sitter was identified as 'Major W. D. Meares' of the '20th Foot' on the album page.]

His service record at Kew shows that his full name was William Lewis Devenish Meares and that he was born at Meares Court, County Westmeath [Ireland] on 6 April 1832. His father was John Devenish-Meares of Meares Court. William originally entered the 98th Foot from the Royal Military College on 28 November 1850, but transferred to the 20th (The East Devonshire) Regiment of Foot in 1854. He served in the Crimea (Sebastopol and Kinburn), India and China.

On 15 November 1871 at Abergele Church in Wales he married Katherine Charlotte Folliott, 'eldest daughter the late George Folliott, Esq., of Vicar's Cross, Cheshire' (Warder and Dublin Weekly Mail, 26 November 1870). 

Some 40 years later, now a 74-year-old widower, he married Florence Moore, aged 49, daughter of Revered Francis Wellington Moore. The marriage took place on 27 October 1906 at St James's, Paddington. 

Major-General Meares died in London on 18 June 1907. A short obituary appeared in the Army and Navy Gazette (22 June 1907): 'Major-Gen. William Lewis Devenish Meares, Colonel, retired list, formerly of the 20th Regiment, of Meares Court, co. Westmeath, died in London after a short illness on Tuesday, aged 75. He joined the Army as Ensign Nov. 29, 1850; became Captain Oct. 15, 1855; Major April 12, 1864; Lieutenant-Colonel Oct. 5, 1872; Colonel Oct. 5, 1877; and retired with the honorary rank of Major-General Nov. 27, 1877. He served in the Eastern Campaign, 1854-55, including the siege and fall of Sebastopol, and the capture of Kinburn (medal with claps and Turkish medal).' 

He left an estate valued at £3122. According to the abstract of his will, Meares Court was at Mullingar in county Westmeath and Major-General Meares died at St Ermin's Hotel in London.