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John Rutledge
Chief Justice of the United States · 1789–1795
John Rutledge , Chief Justice of the United States. John Rutledge Jr. (September 17, 1739 – June 21, 1800) was an American Founding Father, politician, and jurist who served as one of the original associate justices of the Supreme Court and the second chief justice of the United States. Additionally, he served as the first president of South Carolina and later as its first governor after the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Positions
- Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States1790-02-15–1791-03-05
- Chief Justice of the United States1795-06-30–1795-12-28
Education
- Middle Temple, London, England
- Read law1760
Career
Private practice, Charleston, South Carolina; Member, South Carolina Commons House of Assembly, 1761-1776; Attorney general pro tem, State of South Carolina, 1764-1765; Delegate, Stamp Act Congress, 1765; Delegate, Continental Congress, 1774-1776, 1782-1783; Member, South Carolina Council of Safety, 1776; President, South Carolina House of Representatives, 1776-1778; Governor, South Carolina, 1779-1782; State representative, South Carolina, 1782, 1784-1790; Judge, Chancery Court of South Carolina, 1784-1790; Delegate, Federal Constitutional Convention, 1787; Member, South Carolina convention to ratify U.S. Constitution, 1788; Chief justice, South Carolina Court of Common Pleas, 1791-1795
Biography
John Rutledge Jr. (September 17, 1739 – June 21, 1800) was an American Founding Father, politician, and jurist who served as one of the original associate justices of the Supreme Court and the second chief justice of the United States. Additionally, he served as the first president of South Carolina and later as its first governor after the Declaration of Independence was signed.
From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
More
From Senate roll call votes, Wikidata, Wikipedia and Office of Government Ethics records.
Cite or embed this page
Capitol Receipts, “John Rutledge : Chief Justice of the United States,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/appointee/j2078/john-rutledge (accessed 2026-10-13).