Robert Mearns


Major General Robert Walter Mearns was a U.S. Army general during World War I.

Early life

Robert Walter Mearns was born on July 16, 1866, in Kemblesville, Pennsylvania, to Andrew James Mearns, a farmer, and Martha Kennedy Mearns. He attended the West Chester State Teachers College, then entered the United States Military Academy and graduated number sixty-one of sixty-two in the class of 1892.

Military career

He was commissioned in the 20th Infantry on duty at Fort Assinniboine, Montana, and later, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Mearns was promoted to major and commanded the Philippine Scouts from February 28, 1905, to December 8, 1909.

Personal life

Mearns married Ethel Janet Brown on June 5, 1913. Together they had three sons, Robert, Fillmore and James. He was a Presbyterian and enjoyed riding horses, golfing and motoring. Mearns died at the age of eight-two at Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco on May 23, 1949.