Jeremiah Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Jeremiah C. Sullivan was a justice of the Indiana Supreme Court from 1836–1846 and coined the name "Indianapolis
" for the new state capital.
Jeremiah Sullivan studied at The College of William & Mary in Virginia. After serving in the War of 1812
, during which he rose to the rank of major, he returned to Virginia to study law. He was admitted to the Virginia bar
in 1816, feeling that there was more opportunity in the newly opened West, he ventured out to Louisville, Kentucky
. On his way, he was told of the opportunities offered by Madison, Indiana
, a new and growing town on the banks of the Ohio River
.
He built his home in 1818 and from this base went on to carve a career as state legislator, state supreme court judge, and county judge, Presbyterian elder, and Mason. He helped found nearby Hanover College
and the Indiana Historical Society
. Jeremiah Sullivan’s public career was immediately successful. Governor Jennings quickly appointed him prosecuting attorney in Madison and within three years of his arrival he was elected a member of the state legislature. While in the Legislature, he gave Indianapolis
its name. He later was judge of the Supreme Court of Indiana
from 1836–1846. In 1869, a criminal court was created for Jefferson County
, and he was appointed judge.
Judge Sullivan's house, the Jeremiah Sullivan House, in Madison, is acknowledged to have been the first brick mansion built in the Northwest Territory
. It is now on tour and associated with Historic Madison.
Among his sons were Algernon Sydney Sullivan
, founder of the Sullivan & Cromwell
law firm in New York and Jeremiah C. Sullivan
and Thomas Crook Sullivan
, Civil War generals.
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
" for the new state capital.
Jeremiah Sullivan studied at The College of William & Mary in Virginia. After serving in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, during which he rose to the rank of major, he returned to Virginia to study law. He was admitted to the Virginia bar
Virginia Bar
Virginia Bar can refer to either the* Virginia State Bar - an administrative agency of the Supreme Court of Virginia responsible for regulation of the legal profession in the Commonwealth....
in 1816, feeling that there was more opportunity in the newly opened West, he ventured out to Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. On his way, he was told of the opportunities offered by Madison, Indiana
Madison, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,004 people, 5,092 households, and 3,085 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,402.9 people per square mile . There were 5,597 housing units at an average density of 654.1 per square mile...
, a new and growing town on the banks of the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
.
He built his home in 1818 and from this base went on to carve a career as state legislator, state supreme court judge, and county judge, Presbyterian elder, and Mason. He helped found nearby Hanover College
Hanover College
Hanover College is a private liberal arts college, located in Hanover, Indiana, near the banks of the Ohio River. The college is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . The college was founded in 1827 by the Rev. John Finley Crowe, making it the oldest private college in Indiana. The Hanover...
and the Indiana Historical Society
Indiana Historical Society
The Indiana Historical Society is one of the United States' oldest and largest historical societies and describes itself as "Indiana's Storyteller". Housed within the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, it is located at 450 West Ohio St...
. Jeremiah Sullivan’s public career was immediately successful. Governor Jennings quickly appointed him prosecuting attorney in Madison and within three years of his arrival he was elected a member of the state legislature. While in the Legislature, he gave Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
its name. He later was judge of the Supreme Court of Indiana
Supreme Court of Indiana
The Supreme Court of Indiana is the state supreme court of Indiana. The court was established by Article Seven of the Indiana Constitution and is the highest judicial authority within Indiana...
from 1836–1846. In 1869, a criminal court was created for Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Indiana
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 32,428. The county seat is Madison.-History:Jefferson County was formed in 1811...
, and he was appointed judge.
Judge Sullivan's house, the Jeremiah Sullivan House, in Madison, is acknowledged to have been the first brick mansion built in the Northwest Territory
Northwest Territory
The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, more commonly known as the Northwest Territory, was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 13, 1787, until March 1, 1803, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Ohio...
. It is now on tour and associated with Historic Madison.
Among his sons were Algernon Sydney Sullivan
Algernon Sydney Sullivan
For the Louisiana Republican politician, see Algernon Sidney Badger.Algernon Sydney Sullivan was a New York lawyer. Sullivan, together with William Nelson Cromwell, founded Sullivan & Cromwell in 1879....
, founder of the Sullivan & Cromwell
Sullivan & Cromwell
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is an international law firm headquartered in New York. The firm has approximately 800 lawyers in 12 offices, located in financial centers in the United States, Asia, Australia and Europe. Sullivan & Cromwell was founded by Algernon Sydney Sullivan and William Nelson...
law firm in New York and Jeremiah C. Sullivan
Jeremiah C. Sullivan
Jeremiah Cutler Sullivan was an Indiana lawyer, antebellum United States Navy officer, and a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was among a handful of former Navy officers who later served as infantry generals during the war.-Early life and career:Jeremiah C....
and Thomas Crook Sullivan
Thomas Crook Sullivan
Thomas Crook Sullivan was a brigadier general in the United States Army.Sullivan was born at Montgomery County, Ohio, the son of Samuel Sullivan, the proprietor of Sullivan's Tavern, the brother of Ohio 2nd Dist Appellate Judge Theodore Sullivan, and the nephew of future Major General George Crook...
, Civil War generals.