Born at West Downham, Isle of Ely, where his father was curate. He was educated at St Bartholomew's Hospital, and after qualifying was for a short period assistant to a medical man at Birmingham. Soon, however, he went to Ipswich as assistant to Mr Stibbins, whose pupil he had been, and on the latter's death started practice in the town. He was appointed one of the Surgeons of the East Suffolk Hospital on its establishment, and held the appointment till about the year 1869. As an operator Bullen was very successful; he cut for stone fifty times and seldom lost a patient. His fine collection of calculi is now in the Museum of this College. He was well read both in medical and general literature and had a fair knowledge of the fine arts. He was for six months Alderman of the Borough of Ipswich, but resigned office. At the time of his death he was President of the Public Library, a Member of the Museum Committee and of the Dock Commission. He practised at Carr Street, Ipswich, and died on November 11th, 1871. He outlived both his wives and his only son, who was a rising medical man in Ipswich, and died before 1870.