# John Rutledge

> chief justice of the United States in 1795

**Wikidata**: [Q370781](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q370781)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Rutledge)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/john-rutledge

## Summary
John Rutledge was an American judge, lawyer, and politician who served as the chief justice of the United States in 1795. A citizen of the United States and member of the Founding Fathers, he is best known for his brief tenure as the nation's second Chief Justice and his earlier role as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court.

## Biography
- **Born**: September 17, 1739
- **Died**: July 23, 1800
- **Nationality**: United States
- **Education**: Middle Temple
- **Known for**: Serving as Chief Justice of the United States in 1795
- **Occupations**: Judge, Lawyer, Politician
- **Affiliations**: Founding Fathers of the United States

## Contributions
John Rutledge's most significant contribution was his service as chief justice of the United States in 1795. He was also affiliated with the Founding Fathers of the United States, the group responsible for leading the revolution against Great Britain and establishing the nation's foundational documents. His career in public service is documented by the National Governors Association.

## FAQs
**What was John Rutledge's role in the U.S. government?**
John Rutledge served as the chief justice of the United States in 1795. He also held the occupation of judge and politician, contributing to the early federal judiciary.

**What was John Rutledge's educational background?**
He was educated at the Middle Temple, which is one of the four Inns of Court in London, England. This institution is known for training legal professionals.

**Who was John Rutledge associated with historically?**
He was a member of the Founding Fathers of the United States, a group of American leaders who spearheaded the revolution against Great Britain.

## Why They Matter
John Rutledge matters as a foundational figure in the American legal system. As a member of the Founding Fathers, he played a role in the creation of the United States and its separation from Great Britain. His tenure as chief justice, though brief, marked a critical early chapter in the history of the Supreme Court of the United States, helping to establish the judicial authority outlined in the new federal constitution.

## Notable For
- **Chief Justice of the United States**: Held the highest judicial office in the federal government in 1795.
- **Founding Father**: Member of the group that led the American Revolution and established the United States.
- **Legal Training**: Educated at the Middle Temple in London, a prestigious institution for lawyers.
- **Alias "Dictator John"**: Historically referred to by this alias.
- **Subject of Portraiture**: Depicted in "John Rutledge color painting.jpg."

## Body

### Early Life and Education
John Rutledge was born on September 17, 1739. He pursued a career in law by attending the Middle Temple, one of the four Inns of Court located in London, England. This education qualified him as a lawyer, a profession he practiced throughout his life.

### Career and Public Service
Rutledge's professional life was defined by his work as a judge, lawyer, and politician. He was a citizen of the United States and actively participated in the country's formation. He is listed among the Founding Fathers of the United States, the group credited with leading the revolution against Great Britain and establishing the nation.

His most prominent role was serving as the chief justice of the United States in 1795. This position placed him at the head of the federal judiciary during a formative period for the country. His career is documented in various historical records, including the National Governors Association profile found at `https://www.nga.org/governor/john-rutledge/`.

### Historical Identifiers and Records
John Rutledge's life and legacy are preserved through numerous historical identifiers and biographical records. His signature is preserved as "John Rutledge sig.svg," and his likeness is captured in "John Rutledge color painting.jpg."

He is indexed in major biographical databases and encyclopedias, including:
*   **SNAC**: I00587938
*   **Biographical Directory of the United States Congress**: R000552
*   **Oxford Dictionary of National Biography**: 68655
*   **Encyclopædia Britannica**: biography/John-Rutledge
*   **Find a Grave**: 3672
*   **National Governors Association**: rutledge-john

Other unique identifiers include VIAF (57427193), ISNI (0000000110643411), and Library of Congress authority number n85367651. He is also referenced in the Wikidata system with the description "chief justice of the United States in 1795" and has a Wikipedia title "John Rutledge" with 31 sitelinks.

### Death
John Rutledge died on July 23, 1800. His death marked the end of a career that spanned the colonial, revolutionary, and early federal periods of American history.

## References

1. Genealogics
2. [Source](https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/founding-fathers)
3. Geni.com
4. International Standard Name Identifier
5. Find a Grave
6. GeneaStar
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. CERL Thesaurus
9. [John Rutledge (Supreme Court) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/John_Rutledge_(Supreme_Court))