James Meehan (surveyor)

James Meehan (1774 – 21 April 1826) was an Irish Australian explorer and surveyor.

Meehan was born in Ireland, in Shinrone, County Offaly, in 1774. He was declared a rebel and given a life sentence in a trial after the Rebellion of 1798 and arrived in Australia on the Friendship in February 1800. He came under the assumed name James Mahon. He became an assistant to surveyor-general Charles Grimes and accompanied him on a number of expeditions. Meehan acted as assistant-surveyor while Grimes was absent for about three years. On Grimes' return in 1806 and in appreciation for his work, he was given a pardon for his political crimes. He developed a plan of Sydney in 1807 (which was later used as the basis for the Old Sydney Town theme park).

In 1812, he was sent to Tasmania to survey the land. His 1811 map of Hobart contains detailed information on the early settlement. Meehan was appointed deputy surveyor-general in 1818. It was around this time that he named the settlement of Goulburn after Henry Goulburn, the Under-Secretary for War and the Colonies.

He was a leader of the Catholic Church in Sydney, chairing the meeting in 1820 which began the raising of funds for a church. He was largely responsible for choosing the site, on which St Mary's Cathedral now stands.