Born in Norwich, Connecticut, on August 29, 1851, a son of John and Mary Fitzgerald Sullivan. He moved to Keokuk with his parents in 1856, where he resided a short time, later moving to St. Louis, Missouri, then to McGregor, Iowa in 1861, where he resided until the time of his death, July 17, 1936. During his early manhood he clerked in wholesale and retail dry goods stores, later purchasing one of the clothing stores in which he was employed. He continued in this business until his retirement in 1895. He was united in marriage· on November 23, 1879, to Miss Anna Korte. Mr. Sullivan served as a representative from Clayton county in the Twenty-sixth General Assembly. Later serving the city of McGregor as Mayor, member of the board of education, councilman, and justice of the peace. He was a member of the Catholic Church.