Greenleaf Merriam was born in Baltimore on October 28,1849 but was appointed to the Naval Academy from Massachusetts in July 1866.  He graduated in 1870 and served on the Saco and Colorado as a midshipman.  He then was on the Rio Bravo on special service until 1879 and then to the Hydrographic Office.  After three years in the Quinnebaug, on the European Station, he went to the Hydrographic Office again in 1884, for three years.  From 1887-1890 he was secretary to Rear Admiral Kimberly,  Commander in Chief of the Pacific Squadron on the Flagships Vandalia, Dolphin, and Trenton at Samoa.  He returned for three years at the Naval Academy, following which he was assigned to the Concord on Asiatic Station.  In 1903 he took command of the USS Dixie for two years and then was transferred to the Boston Navy Yard for one year and the New York Navy Yard for one year.  In June of 1907 he was given command of the USS Missouri and remained in command for the first part of the voyage until San Francisco.  Afterwards he became Commandant of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard where he died on September 2, 1908.  He was buried at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis.