Born at Kennebunk, Maine. Attended Bowdoin College. Admitted to the Massachusetts bar in 1832. Married Susan Mann in 1838. They had four children. Employed as cashier and manager of a branch of the State Bank of Indiana until 1856. President of the State Bank of Indiana 1856 to 1863. His signature appears on notes from the State Bank of Indiana. Organizer of the National Currency Bureau.

Appointed Secretary of the Treasury under Lincoln serving March 7, 1865, to March 4, 1869. During his term the Secret Service was established. McCulloch gave the oath of office to the first chief of the service, William P. Wood. McCulloch was later Secretary of the Treasury under Arthur serving October 28, 1884, to March 4, 1885.

He died at "Holly Hill" in Maryland.

McCulloch appears on paper money:

$20 National Bank Note, Third Charter

bio: ApCAB; BDEB; CW/NM 5/19/76; DAB; Drake; EAB; Limpert; NCAB 4; TCBDA; WWWA-H