Jacob Rush (jurist)

Jacob Rush, brother of Benjamin Rush, was born near Philadelphia,[1] perhaps in Byberry Township,[2] Pennsylvania, about December, 1746, or January, 1747.[1] He was graduated at Princeton in 1765, settled in the practice of law in Philadelphia, was a judge of the High Court of Errors and Appeals of Pennsylvania in 1784–1806, president of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia in 1806–20, and at an earlier date was a justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.[1][2]

In the controversy between Joseph Reed and John Dickinson as to the character of Benedict Arnold, Judge Rush espoused the latter's cause,[1] defending Arnold against the charges of Reed in 1779.[2] Princeton gave him the degree LL.D. in 1804. He died in Philadelphia on January 5, 1820.[1][2]

His publications include:

1. Resolve in Committee Chamber 6 Dec., 1774 (Philadelphia, 1774);[1]
2. Charges on Moral and Religious Subjects (1803);[1][2]
3. Character of Christ (1806);[1][2]
4. Christian Baptism (1819).[1][2]

His daughter, Rebecca, published Kelroy, a novel (Philadelphia, 1812).[1][2]

• This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: White, James Terry, ed. (1894). "Rush, Jacob". The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. 5. New York: James T. White & Co. p. 150.
• This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Wilson, J. G.; Fiske, J., eds. (1900). "Rush, Jacob". Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography. Vol. 5. Rev. ed. New York: D. Appleton & Co. p. 350.

• Ockerbloom, John Mark, ed. "Rush, Jacob, 1747-1820". The Online Books Page. Retrieved 29 August 2022.