J. Meredith Read

John Meredith Read, Jr. (February 21, 1837, Philadelphia – December 27, 1896, Paris) was a United States diplomat and author.

J. Meredith Read was the son of Philadelphia jurist John Meredith Read, Sr. He was a graduate of Brown University, where he received the degree of A.M. in 1866, graduated from Albany Law School in 1859, studied international law in Europe, was admitted to the bar in Philadelphia, and afterward moved to Albany, New York. He was Adjutant General of New York from 1860 to 1866, was one of the originators of the “Wide-Awake” political clubs in 1860. He was chairman in April of the same year of the committee of three to draft a bill in behalf of New York State, appropriating $300,000 for the purchase of arms and equipments, and he subsequently received the thanks of the war department for his ability and zeal in organizing, equipping, and forwarding troops.

J. Meredith Read was the first U. S. consul general for France and Algeria in 1869-1873 and 1870-1872, and acting consul general for Germany during the Franco-Prussian War. His work representing German interests in Paris lasted several months after U.S. minister to France Elihu Washburne ceased being official representative of the German government in June 1871. After the war, he was appointed by General Ernest Courtot de Cissey, French minister of war, to form and preside over a commission to examine into the desirability of teaching the English language to the French troops.

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