Jacob Rush (jurist)

Jacob Rush (1746-1820) was an American jurist who served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Born in Byberry, Pennsylvania, in 1746, Jacob Rush was the younger brother of Benjamin Rush, a prominent physician and signatory of the Declaration of Independence. He graduated from Princeton College in 1765 and pursued a legal career.

Rush was admitted to the bar in 1769 and began practicing law in Philadelphia. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Conference in 1775, contributing to the movement towards independence. He held various local political offices before being appointed a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Bucks County in 1778.

In 1784, Jacob Rush was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, a position he held until his resignation in 1806. As a Justice, he participated in significant cases shaping Pennsylvania law in the early years of the United States. He was known for his intellectual rigor and contributions to legal scholarship.

After resigning from the Supreme Court, Rush retired to Philadelphia, where he continued to study law and philosophy. He published several essays and treatises on legal and philosophical topics.

Jacob Rush died in Philadelphia in 1820. His legacy lies in his contributions to the development of Pennsylvania law and his intellectual pursuits in both law and philosophy.