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.
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.