James T. Mullen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_T._Mullen

James T. Mullen (August 30, 1843 – July 6, 1891) was the first Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus from February 2, 1882 to May 17, 1886.

Mullen participated in the Civil War having enlisted in New Haven, Connecticut in Company C of the 9th Regiment, on September 11, 1861, and became a sergeant in the company. He was honorably discharged on December 27, 1862, due to illness.

References

First supreme knight of the order of Knights of Columbus. He designed the 3 degrees initiation based on the knighthood initiation and was the designer of the Emblem of the Order. (APelletier)

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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/112377560

Born Aug. 30, 1843 in New Haven, James Mullen enlisted in Company C of the Ninth, Sept. 11, 1861, and was a sergeant in the company. Five months after the ill-fated "Williams Canal" he was honorably discharged Dec. 27, 1862, owing to sickness. Subsequently, he became a lieutenant of police in New Haven, and later engaged in a number of successful business pursuits. He was a fire commissioner of New Haven for thirteen years; president of that board for several years; and was also a member of the board of alderman.

He belonged to the Knights of St. Patrick and the Sarsfield Guards, an Irish Catholic militia organization that was incorporated into the National Guard of Connecticut after the Civil War. He was the Supreme Knight of the Order of the Red Knights (1875-1880), an local Irish American fraternal society and an offshoot of the Guards. He was one of the founders of the Knights of Columbus, was the first Supreme Knight ( Feb 2, 1882 – May 17, 1886) and was credited with the choice of the word "Knights" as opposed to the Sons of Columbus. He also designed the early Knights of Columbus emblem and rituals, as well as the Fourth Degree regalia including the chapeau, cape and sword.

He was married to Annie K. Pigott, a sister of the Hon. James P. Pigott, a member of Congress from New Haven. They had one son. James Mullen died July 6, 1891 and is buried at St. Lawrence cemetery in New Haven. His portrait is one of 12 soldiers etched in the centerpiece of the Connecticut Monument dedicated at the Vicksburg National Military Park in 2008.