William Meeke was born in 1758, the son of Joseph Causton of Rotherhithe. William attended Charterhouse before being admitted as a Fellow Commoner at Emmanuel College in May 1776, matriculating in October the same year. He received his B.A. in 1780 and his M.A. 1783. He was admitted at Lincoln's Inn in February 1780 and was called to the bar in 1785. He was one of the original Charter Fellows of Downing College in 1800. He was M.P. for Penryn, 1796-1802.

Meeke was part of Pitt's circle of friends during Pitt's later years at Pembroke. In 1780 Pitt moved to London and Meeke went on a travelling scholarship to Europe, returning in the autumn of 1782. During this time he wrote several letters to Pitt and received the 3 listed below in reply.