KING, WILLIAM RUFUS ( 1786-1853 ) . An American statesman. He was born in Sampson County, N. C., graduated at the University of North Carolina in 1803, and studied law at Fayetteville, where lie was admitted to the bar in BOG. In the same year he was elected to the State Legislature, serving until his elec tion, as a Democrat, to the United States Con gress in 1810. There lie remained until 1816, supporting the Administration's war policy, and receiving in the latter year the position of secretary of legation at Saint Petersburg. Re turning in ISIS, he settled as a cotton planter in Dallas County, Ala., was a member of the convention which drew up the Constitution for the proposed State in that year. and after its admission in 1819 took his seat in the United States Senate as one of the first Senators from 'Alabama. lie remained in the Senate by re election until 1844. serving after 1538 as presi dent pro tend pore. In 184 1 lie accepted from President Tyler an appointment as Minister to France, 'where lie is said to have prevented a French protest against the annexation of Texas.
Recalled at his own request in September. 1846, he was in December of that year returned to the Senate to fill an unexpired term, was reelected for a full term, and served until 1853, again presiding over the body in the last three years as president pro tcmport. In 1852 King, who had been a candidate for the Democratic nomina tion for the •ice-Presiden•y crer since 1840, was finally named for that office on the Pierce ticket, and was elected. Before the inauguration, how ever, his health began to fail rapidly, and lie went to Havana, Cuba, where by special act of Congress he was allowed to take the oath of office on March 4, 1853. Ile never entered upon the duties of his office, however, but died shortly after his return to Alabama in the April follow ing.