Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-04-20
EVENING STAR.
WASHINGTON:
DEMISE OF VICE PRESIDENT KING.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1853.

DENISE OF VICE PRESIDENT KING.
While our paper was in press yesterday,
but at too late an hour for US to suspend the
publication, We learned the mournful news
of the death of Col. WILLIAM RUFUS KING,
Vice President of the United States. His
arrival in Mobile was autographed day or
two since. It has turned out as we then
predicted-the distinguished statesman had
come home to die He reached Selma, his
place of residence, in the State of Alabama,
on Sunday last and there, among his
friends and kindred, he surrendered up his
spirit to the COP who gave it,
From a brief but interesting obituary in
the Union of this morning, we learn that
''Col. King was born on the 9th of April,
1885, in Sampson county, North Carolina.
After completing his education at the uni
versity of his native State, he became a
student of law in the Office of William DUFFY.
of Fayetteville. At the age of twenty he
was elected representative of his native
county in the legislature of the State. At
twenty-four he was chosen representative
in Congress from the Wilmington district
and of the party which advocated and sap
ported the war of 1872 he was a Jealous and
consistent member. In the spring Of 1916
he resigned his seat in the House of Repre-
sentatives, and accompanied William Pinck-
ney, of Maryland, as secretary of legation,
first to Naples, and then to St. Petersburgh,
to which courts MIR. Pinckney was sent as
minister plenipotentiary
''On his return to the United States in the
winter of 1818-19, Mr.. King fixed his resi-
dence in Dallas County, in the then territory
of Alabama. He was elected a member O.:
the convention to establish State Govern
ment, and was appointed on the committee
to frame constitution. With the Hon
John W. Walker, he was elected one of the
first two Senators who represented Alabama
in the Congress of the United States. In
1923, in 1923, in 1884, and in 1910, be was
reelected to the Senate. In 1874 he &C.
cepted the mission to France, with the
especial object of facilitating the annexation
OF Texas. He was remarkably successful
In his mission, having by his skill and
prudence entirely prevented the opposition
of the French Government to that measure.
In lS48 he was made Senator from Alabama
by appointment of the Governor, to fill a
vacancy occasioned by the resignation of
the Hon. Arthur P. Bagby, sent Minister
to Russia. In 1049 he was elected by the
Legislature for full term of six ears. In
1850, on the accession of Mr. Fillmore to
the Presidency, he was unanimously chosen
President of the Senate. By the Baltimore
Convention in June, 1852, he was made the
Democratic candidate for the Vice Presi.
dency, and was elected to that Office by the
people in the ensuing November. In the
winter of 1852 Colonel King began to
suffer from o pulmonary affection, which
gradually grew so alarming in its symptoms
that he was advised to seek alienation in a
tropical climate. Accordingly, in the month
OF February last he sought repose and relief
IN the island of Cuba but discovering that
his disease was fatal, he determined to die
in his own land"
Intelligence of the demise of Vice Presi-
dent King was carried in person to the
Executive mansion by Governor Marcy,
Secretary of State, and Immediately sub
mitted to President Pierce. The usual
steps will be taken at once; the public de-
partments closed; and every tribute of
respect paid to the memory of the illustrious
dead.