Selden Allen McMeans (July 1806 – July 31, 1876) was an American physician and politician.
Born nearKnoxville, Tennessee, McMeans first began practicing medicine in the 1840s inGreenville, South Carolina. In 1846, he volunteered for service in theMexican–American War. After the war ended, he moved toEl Dorado County, California, where he was a member of theCalifornia State Assembly for the 12th District (1852–54) and served as the secondCalifornia State Treasurer (1854–56).
In the fall of 1859, McMeans moved toVirginia City, Nevada after theComstock Lode silver strike. When the news of the firing onFort Sumter reached Virginia City in 1861, McMeans announced that he would captureFort Churchill for theConfederacy, but was quickly disabused of this notion by news of a detachment ofUnion soldiers heading from Fort Churchill to Virginia City. After theCivil War, he organized theDemocratic Party in Nevada and became its first chairman. He eventually moved toReno, where he died at age 70 in 1876.
| California Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | California State Assemblyman, 12th District 1852–1854 (with three others) | Succeeded by Four members |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | State Treasurer of California 1854–1856 | Succeeded by |
