Return Meigs - Definition

Return Jonathan Meigs, Jr. (also known as Return J. Meigs, Jr.) (November 17, 1764–March 29, 1825) was a Democratic-Republican politician from Ohio. He served as the 4th Governor of Ohio and 8th Postmaster General.

Meigs was born in Middletown, Connecticut, the descendant of early Puritan settlers in Massachusetts. He graduated from Yale College in 1785. After passing the bar in Connecticut, he moved to Marietta, Ohio three years later. He was appointed the first Chief Justice of the Ohio State Supreme Court in 1803. He served in that position for a year before serving as a judge in the Louisiana Territory and Michigan Territory. He returned to Ohio in 1807 to run for governor. He won the election, but was declared ineligible for failing to meet the residency requirements. He then was appointed to the U.S. Senate to finish the term of John Smith and was re-elected to his own term a year later. He resigned in late 1810 after winning the governorship. He served two two-year terms, resigning in April 1814 when appointed Postmaster General by President Madison. He served until resigning in 1823 due to ill health.

Meigs County, Ohio and Meigs County, Tennessee are named in his honor.