Richard, born April 1780, was the son of William Meares of Killinboy, County Westmeath, and Elizabeth Goldsmith; his family's background was Anglo-Irish, his father's businesses were concerned with wine.
Meares' commissions began as ensign with the North Yorkshire militia in 1803, a promotion to the regular 7th Fusiliers followed soon after that; he eventually acquired the rank of cornet and sub-lieutenant in July 1810 with the 2nd Life Guards.
The region was beset with disputes between local people and those of neighbouring districts while under his administration, his nature and correspondence being described as quirky or quarrelsome;[1] the publicity generated by these was a source of concern to the establishment at Perth.
Meares, was complainant, and Thomas White, a lately imported Englishman, was defendant, on a charge of breach of contract, the father insisted on sitting as a magistrate, stating, "that he wished to see justice done to his son."
Meares, after hearing the son's statement, and reading some letters from Mr. M. Clarkson, also protested against because the writer was not present to be cross-examined, sentenced White to two months imprisonment in Fremantle Jail, in presence of his weeping wife and an infant baby at her breast, and a crowd of amazed spectators.
Their eldest son was Seymour Meares, who later settled at Pinjarra; of the earlier incident there he reported seeing eighteen graves, the subject of ongoing discourse in Western Australian history.