George Meldrum was born in Scotland in 1737, and emigrated to North American, then traveled to Detroit, where he became a merchant.
By the time of his arrival, Michigan had switched from French to British status, but French influences remained strong.
He wed Angelique Mary Catherine Chapoton, who's grandfather, John Chapton, had been the first surgeon assigned to Fort Ponchartrain.

George was an active trader who provided merchandise to the British at Fort Michilmackinac, under the instructions of Colonial Lieutenant Governor, Patrick Sinclair. His products consisted of corn, canoews, brass knobs, fishing lines, spears, cloth, thread, grease, and chisels. He also owned a number of parcels of real estate, in the Detroit area, including on the Detroit River near Merchant's Wharf, and in areas that are now part of Hamtramck, and Chesterfield Township, in Macomb County.

In an interesting article published by the Detroit Land Board, in 1774 he is quoted a public apology in part; "I confesss I have used you to very ill in the presence of the committe and several other merchants... by several rash and unbecoming aspersions for which I am very sorry, and which I hope you will be so good as to forgive, as it was entirely the effect of liquor, whereof I had drank too freely."

The Detroit Fire, June 11, 1805, that destroyed much of Detroit, also destroyed George Meldrum's business, the merchant firm of , Meldrum & Park.

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