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| religion =Presbyterian
| spouse =[[Mary Turner Merritt]]
| parents =[[Lucius Louis Manlius Merritt|Louis M. ]] and [[Elizabeth McGaughy Merritt|Elizabeth Merritt]]
| children =
| signature =
==Early life==
Merritt was born in Russell County, Alabama, in [[1864]]. His father, [[Lucius M. Louis Manlius Merritt]], was away in England seeking supplies for the Confederacy. The Merritt family came to Pensacola in July [[1869]] aboard the ship ''Mine Lizzie''.<ref name="stjohns">[http://www.stjohnshistoriccemetery.com/pensacolas_heritages/business.htm#john_a_merritt St. John's Historic Cemetery]</ref>
In [[1880]], Merritt's father arranged for him to study law under [[Edward Aylesworth Perry]]. However, the young Merritt did not enjoy the subject and soon discontinued his law studies. Between [[1880]] and [[1893]], Merritt worked in various jobs: as a lumber tally clerk in the Bay; as a deckhand on a tug; as a lumber inspector; and for the [[W. B. Wright Company|George W. Wright Lumber Company]].<ref name="brown">[http://www.brownmarine.com/story09.htm Brown Marine Sea Stories]</ref>
