Jonathan Russell Bullock

Who was Jonathan Russell Bullock?

Jonathan Russell Bullock was a Rhode Island politician and a United States federal judge.

Born in Bristol, Rhode Island, Bullock was graduated from Brown University in 1834 and read law to enter the bar in 1836. He was in private practice in Alton, Illinois from 1836 to 1843, and served as on the Alton Common Council. He was in private practice in Bristol, Rhode Island from 1843 to 1849, serving as a member of the Rhode Island General Assembly from 1844 to 1846. He was the attorney general of Rhode Island in 1849. He was a collector of customs in Bristol and Warren, Rhode Island from 1849 to 1853, then served in the Rhode Island Senate in 1859 before becoming lieutenant governor of the state in 1860. After briefly serving as a special commissioner to adjust accounts between Rhode Island and the Government of the United States, he served as a judge on the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1862 to 1864.

On February 9, 1865, Bullock was nominated by President Abraham Lincoln to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island vacated by John Pitman. Bullock was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 11, 1865, and received his commission the same day. Bullock served in that capacity until his resignation, on September 15, 1869.