[William Rufus]. American statesman, born in Sampson Co., NC, on the 6th of April 1786. He graduated at the University of North Carolina in 1803, and was admitted to the bar in 1806. In the same year he was elected to the legislature, and in 1807 he was appointed State solicitor tor the Wilmington circuit. After holding this office two years he was again elected to the legislature. In 1810 he was elected to Congress, where he acted with the war-party. In 1816 he resigned his seat to become secretary of legation under William Pinckney, then U.S. minister to Naples and afterwards to Russia. Returning home in 1818, he removed to Dallas Co., AL, where he henceforth resided. He assisted in framing the State constitution of Alabama in 1819, and was chosen U.S. Senator from the new State. This position he held until 1844, acting uniformly with the Democratic party. From 1824 he advocated the election of Gen. Jackson to the Presidency, and he continually supported the view and policy of that leader. In 1844 King was appointed by Pres. Tyler U.S. minister to France, and was successful in preventing that country from joining with Great Britain in a protest against the annexation of Texas. He return to the United States in November 1846, and re-entered the Senate in 1848. When Vice-President Fillmore became President in July 1850, King was unanimously elected president of the Senate. In 1852 he was elected Vice-President of the United States on the ticket with Franklin Pierce, but his health had already began to fail, and in January 1853, he went to Cuba. Not being able to return by March 4, the day of inauguration, he was remitted by special act of Congress to take the official oath at Havana. A few weeks later he returned to his home in Dallas Co., AL, where he died on the 18th of April 1853.
