Montgomery Meigs was born in Augusta, Georgia, on 3rd May, 1816. He studied at the University of Pennsylvania before graduating from West Point Military Academy in 1836.

Meigs joined the army engineers and supervised several important government projects including the General Post Office building, the Washington Aqueduct and Cabin John Bridge.

On the outbreak of the American Civil War, Meigs was appointed Quartermaster General of the Union Army. An efficient administrator, Meigs also supplied the armies of Ulysses S. Grant and William Sherman. After the war Meigs was responsible for the building of the Old Pension Office Building (1883).

Montgomery Meigs died in Washington on 2nd January, 1892.