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ALEXANDER H. BULLOCK, the twenty-seventh governor of Massachusetts, was born in Royalston, Massachusetts on March 2, 1816. His education was attained at Amherst College, where he graduated in 1836, and then at Harvard University, where he earned his law degree in 1840. After establishing his legal practice in Worcester, Bullock entered into politics. He first served as an aide to Governor John Davis in 1842, and later became involved with editing a weekly Whig newspaper, as well as other political periodicals. Bullock also served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1845 to 1849 and 1861 to 1865, was speaker of the house in 1862, served as a one-term member of the Massachusetts State Senate in 1849, and was the Massachusetts Commissioner of Insolvency from 1853 to 1856. From 1856 to 1858 he served as judge on the Court of Insolvency, and in 1859 he served as the mayor of Worcester.  Bullock won election to the Massachusetts governorship on November 7, 1865. He was reelected to a second term in 1866, and to a third term in 1867. During his tenure, the state's wartime financial responsibilities were paid off; and the establishment of soldier's homes was contested. After declining to run for reelection, Bullock left office on January 6, 1869, and retired from public service. He returned to his law practice, and later became involved in the insurance and banking industries.  Governor Alexander H. Bullock passed away on January 17, 1882, and was buried in the Lawrence Brook Cemetery in Royalston, Massachusetts.

Sources:

Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 2, Westport, Conn.; Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols.

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