George Sargent Merrill
George Sargent Merrill (March 10, 1837 – February 17, 1900) was an American soldier who served in the Union Army and as the 10th Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, 1881-1882.
George Sargent Merrill | |
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| Born | March 10, 1837 Methuen, Massachusetts |
| Died | February 17, 1900 (aged 62) Lawrence, Massachusetts |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ | United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1862–1863 |
| Rank |  captain |
| Unit | Company B, 4th Regiment Massachusetts Infantry (nine-month militia) |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War
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| Other work | newspaper editor, 10th Commander-in-Chief, Grand Army of the Republic |
Early life and military career
Merrill was born March 10, 1837 in Methuen, Massachusetts to Johnathan and Margaret (Clark) Merrill.
On August 28, 1862 Merrill enlisted in Company B, 4th Regiment Massachusetts Infantry (nine-month militia) and commissioned 1st lieutenant, September 1, 1862. He was promoted to captain on December 8, 1862. He mustered out of the service with the regiment August 28, 1863 at Camp Hooker in Lakeville, Massachusetts.
Post-war service
In 1875, Merrill was elected Commander of the Massachusetts Department, Grand Army of the Republic. He was elected the 10th Commander-in-Chief of the G.A.R. in 1881 at the national encampment in Indianapolis, Indiana. Following his service as Commander-in-Chief, Merrill continued to serve the organization as chairman of the pensions committee and was very active as an advocate for Civil War veterans' pensions as a lobbyist to the United States Congress.
He was also a veteran companion of the Massachusetts Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.
Merrill died February 17, 1900 in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
References
- Grand Army of the Republic. Final Journal of the Grand Army of the Republic, 1866-1956 (Washington, DC: U.S. Govt. Print. Off.), 1957.
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| Preceded by Louis Wagner |
Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic 1881 – 1882 |
Succeeded by Paul Vandervoort |