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Frank W. Meacham was an American composer, arranger, and music publisher best known for his enduringly popular march, 'American Patrol'.Born in Brooklyn, New York, Meacham worked primarily as an arranger and publisher in the late 19th century. His most significant contribution was composing the instrumental march 'American Patrol' around 1885, which cleverly wove together popular patriotic melodies of the time. While biographical details are scarce, his fame rests almost entirely on this single, highly successful piece that became a standard for bands and orchestras.

• Meacham worked for the prominent music publishing firm Hamilton S. Gordon in New York City, where he arranged popular songs and dances of the day for various instruments and ensembles.
• The enduring popularity of 'American Patrol' skyrocketed during World War II when bandleader Glenn Miller created a famous swing arrangement for his orchestra, making it a major morale booster and signature tune. Miller's version cemented the piece in popular culture far beyond its original era.
• Despite the fame of 'American Patrol', very little concrete information about Meacham's personal life, musical training, or other compositions has survived, making him a somewhat enigmatic figure.