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U.S. Vice Presidents: William R. King

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William Rufus King

(1786-1853)

Profile

Occupation

13th Vice President of the U.S.

3-4-1853 - 4-18-1853

U.S. Senator for Alabama 

1848-1852
Date of Birth April 7, 1786
Date of Death April 18, 1853
Place of Birth Sampson County, NC
Place of Death Selma, AL
Nicknames

William Rufus de Vane King
Parents

Margaret deVane

William King
Special Acquaintance James Buchanan
Political Party

Democratic

Democratic-republican (before 1828)

Did You Know?

Vice President King...

  • ...was tapped to help draft the state of Alabama's constitution.
  • ...established a  plantation, called Chestnut Hill, in a territory that would later become the state of Alabama on the Alabama River after serving in his diplomatic posts overseas.
  • ...holds the record as the shortest term of office for any Vice President, having only held the position for almost five weeks.

Biography

William Rufus DeVane King (April 7, 1786 – April 18, 1853) was an American politician and diplomat. He was the 13th vice president of the United States for six weeks in 1853 before his death. Earlier he had been elected as a U.S. representative from North Carolina and a senator from Alabama. He also served as minister to France during the reign of King Louis Philippe I.

A Democrat, he was a Unionist and his contemporaries considered him to be a moderate on the issues of sectionalism, slavery and westward expansion, which contributed to the American Civil War. He helped draft the Compromise of 1850.[2] He is the only United States executive official to take the oath of office on foreign soil; he was inaugurated in Havana, Cuba, due to poor health.

Quotes

"GENTLEMEN: Before the Senate adjourns, I desire to return my thanks for the very kind and complimentary resolution unanimously passed on Saturday last, and to assure the Senate that so long as I shall have the honor of continuing Presiding Officer, my highest ambition will be to retain the personal regard and confidence of my colleagues. In pursuance of the resolution adopted on Saturday last, I now declare the Senate adjourned sine die"
—William R. King

Books Located in the Library

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