Meredith Poindexter Gentry completed preparatory studies and law, practicing in Franklin, Tennessee. He served multiple terms in the Tennessee House of Representatives and U.S. Congress, including a chairmanship role in the U.S. House Committee on Indian Affairs. Gentry transitioned from Whig Party advocacy to serving in the Confederate States Congress during the Civil War. Despite an unsuccessful gubernatorial bid in 1855, his political career spanned nearly three decades.

Meredith Poindexter Gentry's political identity is marked by a blend of traditional Whig economic principles with a staunch support for Confederate causes, creating a complex ideological tension. His legislative career reveals a commitment to protective tariffs and a national bank, yet his service in the Confederate States Congress highlights a divergent allegiance. Gentry's tenure as chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Indian Affairs further complicates his stance, suggesting a nuanced approach to regional interests and Native American policies. His unsuccessful gubernatorial bid against Andrew Johnson adds another layer to his political narrative, revealing a willingness to challenge established power.