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John A King

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Lieutenant
  
Henry R. Selden

Succeeded by
  
John G. Floyd

Education
  
Harrow School

Preceded by
  
Myron H. Clark

Political party
  
Republican

Grandparents
  
John Alsop

Succeeded by
  
Edwin D. Morgan

Name
  
John King

Uncles
  
Cyrus King

Preceded by
  
Frederick W. Lord

Parents
  
Rufus King


John A. King

Born
  
January 3, 1788 New York City (
1788-01-03
)

Role
  
Former Governor of New York

Died
  
July 7, 1867, Queens, New York City, New York, United States

Similar People
  
Rufus King, James G King, John Alsop, Andrew Cuomo

John Alsop King (January 3, 1788 – July 7, 1867) was an American politician who was Governor of New York from 1857 to 1858.

Contents

Life

John Alsop King was born in the area now encompassed by New York City on January 3, 1788, to U.S. Senator Rufus King (1755–1827) and Mary (née Alsop) King. His maternal grandparents were John Alsop (1724–1794), a prominent merchant and Mary Frogat (1744–1772).

He had four younger brothers, including Charles King (1789–1867), who was President of Columbia University, and Congressman James G. King (1791–1853), Edward King (1795–1836) and Frederic Gore King (1802–1829).

When his father was appointed the U.S. ambassador to Great Britain, the family moved to Britain, and King was educated at Harrow School. Upon graduating from Harrow, King returned to New York City to study law. He was admitted to the bar and practiced in New York City.

Career

John King's law career was interrupted by a stint in the military; he served as a cavalry lieutenant in the War of 1812. After the war, however, he returned to his law practice and then ventured into politics. King was a member of the New York State Assembly (Queens Co.) in 1819, 1820 and 1820–21; of the New York State Senate (First D.) in 1823; and again of the State Assembly in 1832, 1838 and 1840.

United States Congress

King was elected as a Whig to the 31st United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1849, to March 3, 1851. His term as Governor of New York from 1857 to 1858 was noted for improvements to the State's education system and the enlargement of the Erie Canal.

Personal life

He was married to Mary Ray (1790–1873), daughter of Cornelius and Elizabeth Elmendorf Ray. Together, John and Mary had:

  • Mary King (1810–1894), who married Phineas Miller Nightingale (1803–1873)
  • Charles Ray King (1813–1901), who married Hannah Wharton Fisher (1816–1870) in 1839. After he death, he married her sister, Nancy Wharton Fisher (b. 1826) in 1872.
  • Elizabeth Ray King (1815–1900), who married Henry Bell Van Rensselaer (1810–1864), a United States Congressman and member of the Van Rensselaer family.
  • John Alsop King (1817–1900), a State Senator who married Mary Colden Rhinelander (1818–1894), granddaughter of Josiah Ogden Hoffman (1766–1837)
  • Caroline King (1820–1900), who married her first cousin, James Gore King, Jr. (1819–1867), son of James G. King
  • Richard King (1822–1891), who married Elizabeth Lewis (1822–1891), daughter of Mordecai Lewis in 1839
  • Cornelia King (1824–1897)
  • Ellen King (1825–1827)

    • King died on July 7, 1867, in Queens County, New York.

    References

    John A. King Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA