Iredell Meares


Iredell Meares was an American lawyer, public speaker, and politician in North Carolina. His obituary describes him as one of lower Cape Fear's most colorful characters.

Early life

He was born in Raleigh, North Carolina into a prominent family. His family's finances were wrecked by the Civil War and father died in 1871.
A Democrat, he became an independent, then a Republican, and ran for governor as a Progressive.
He reportedly sent his co-counsel a poem in lieu of a fee. He served as deputy of customs in Wilmington. He testified on the proposed establishment of a Department of Education in Washington D.C. He was a lawyer for the Sentinels of the Republic.
He was a Progressive Party candidate in the 1912 North Carolina gubernatorial election. Later in his career he worked in Washington D.C.
He owned two Albert Rosenthal etchings, one of James Iredell.
He was married to Josephine Meares. They had a daughter. He died September 15, 1931 in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Writings