Rufus Bullock | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 46th Governor of Georgia | |
| In office July 4, 1868 – October 30, 1871 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas H. Ruger |
| Succeeded by | Benjamin F. Conley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1834-03-28)March 28, 1834 Bethlehem, New York, U.S. |
| Died | April 27, 1907(1907-04-27) (aged 73) Albion, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Signature | .png) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States of America |
| Branch/service |  Confederate States Army |
| Rank |  Lieutenant colonel[1] |
| Unit | Quartermaster's Office |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Rufus Brown Bullock (March 28, 1834 – April 27, 1907) was an American politician and businessman from Georgia. A Republican, he served as the state's governor during theReconstruction Era. He called for equal economic opportunity[2] and political rights for blacks and whites in Georgia. He also promoted public education for both, and encouraged railroads, banks, and industrial development. During his governorship, he requested federal military help to ensure the rights offreedmen; this made him "the most hated man in the state", and he had to flee the state without completing his term.[1] After returning to Georgia and being found "not guilty" of corruption charges, for three decades afterwards he was an esteemed private citizen.
Bullock was born inBethlehem, New York and moved toAugusta, Georgia, in 1857 for his job with the telegraph companyAdams Express.[3] He served in the Confederate Army, setting up railroad and telegraph lines, rising to the rank oflieutenant colonel in the Quartermaster's Office. After the war, Bullock served as president of the Macon and Augusta Railroad in 1867,[citation needed][dubious –discuss] and established the Augusta First National Bank.
Bullock entered politics as a Republican delegate to theGeorgia Constitutional Convention of 1867–1868. Despite serving in the Confederate Army, Bullock was nominated by the Republican Party for the1868 Georgia gubernatorial election, and defeatedDemocratic nominee and formerMajor general of theConfederate States ArmyJohn B. Gordon on 20 April 1868.[4] Bullock was sworn into office as the46th Governor of Georgia on 21 July 1868, becoming the firstRepublican governor ofGeorgia.[5]
After Georgia ratified theFourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, the Omnibus Act declared that states were entitled to representation in Congress as one of the states of the Union. Georgia again lost the right to representation in Congress because theGeneral Assembly expelled twenty-eight black members and prevented blacks from voting in the1868 presidential election (seeOriginal 33).[6] In response to an appeal from Bullock, Georgia was again placed under military rule as part of theGeorgia Act of December 22, 1869.[7] This made Bullock a hated political figure. After various allegations of scandal and ridicule,[8] in 1871 he was obliged by theKu Klux Klan to resign the governorship, and felt it prudent to leave the state.[1] He was succeeded by RepublicanState Senate presidentBenjamin Conley, who served as Governor for the two remaining months of the term to which Bullock had been elected. Conley was succeeded byJames M. Smith, a Democrat, and no Republican would serve as governor of Georgia again untilSonny Perdue in 2003.
He later became president of theAtlanta Chamber of Commerce, and in 1895 served as master of ceremonies for theCotton States and International Exposition.[9] Bullock introduced the speaker,Booker T. Washington,[10] who gave his famous"Atlanta Compromise" speech.
Bullock died inAlbion, New York, in 1907 and was buried inMt. Albion Cemetery nearby.
Bullock has had both detractors and admirers. According to theNew Georgia Encyclopedia, he was the last progressive governor of Georgia untilJimmy Carter.[1]
He is the only governor of Georgia since 1850 of whom there is no portrait in theGeorgia State Capitol.
Margaret Mitchell, in her novel,Gone with the Wind, included comments relating to Bullock.
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| First | Republican nominee forGovernor of Georgia 1868 | Vacant Title next held by D. Walker |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Georgia 1868–1871 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
