Meryl is the daughter of Roy Campbell, although she was formerly believed to be his niece. Her "father" was killed in action when she was young, and she thought that becoming a soldier would help her to understand him better. She is a complete tomboy, and has a habit of keeping equipment in her bra.

Meryl spent her life training herself to become a soldier, and was finally recruited by the Next Generation Special Forces and assigned to Shadow Moses Island. When it was taken over by terrorists, she refused to take part and was taken prisoner there as a result. However, she eventually escaped and met up with Solid Snake, who found her frustratingly green.
Shortly after meeting up with Snake, Meryl was shot by Sniper Wolf and she and Snake were both taken prisoner. Snake managed to escape, but Meryl was kept as the terrorist' prisoner until she was finally rescued by Snake after he destroyed Metal Gear Rex and triumphed in a fistfight with Liquid. They managed to escape Shadow Moses together, and from this point on they were known to be in a relationship. However, she was not mentioned at the tanker incident in 2007, or the Big Shell incident in 2009, and it is not yet known for certain what happened to her after Shadow Moses.

Meryl Silverburgh returns to the side of Solid Snake 9 years after Shadow Moses. She is now commander of the newly formed FOXHOUND, Rat Patrol Team 01 with CID. And now aids Snake in his hunt for Liquid/Ocelot. Ocelot.