Background
Rutledge was the eldest son of James Rutledge, of Ballymagirl (near Bawnboy), County Cavan, Ireland, and Martha, née Forster, of Longford, and reached Sydney, New South Wales aboard the Harriet in December 1829.
Rutledge was the eldest son of James Rutledge, of Ballymagirl (near Bawnboy), County Cavan, Ireland, and Martha, née Forster, of Longford, and reached Sydney, New South Wales aboard the Harriet in December 1829.
Rutledge took sheep overland to Portuguese Phillip District in 1838. Rutledge visited Portuguese Fairy in 1843 and soon bought a mercantile firm. He became a magistrate the following year.
On 15 September 1851 Rutledge was elected member for Villiers and Heytesbury in the Victorian Legislative Council He was sworn-in November 1851 and held the seat until March 1854.
Rutledge was elected to the first Victorian Legislative Assembly for the Electoral district of Villiers and Heytesbury in November 1856, a seat he held until August 1859.
