King was born in 1786 in Sampson County, one of eight children of William King and Margaret DeVane King, in a family described as large, wealthy and well-connected. King himself stood “one heartbeat from the presidency.” Not once, but twice - once while president pro tempore of the U.S. King’s contemporaries included American presidents and vice presidents - as well as senators and representatives and other elected officials - and foreign dignitaries. One rumor circulated had it that King’s immediate relatives destroyed some of his correspondence after his death, in particular exchanges with James Buchanan, the 15th president of the U.S. Even so, there are few public documents existing on his life and service.
One account reported that William Rufus King was said by his contemporaries to be a noble specimen of an American statesman and gentleman. His influence was felt in the District of Columbia, the State of Washington, France and Russia. MAGNOLIA - William Rufus DeVane King (1786-1853) is memorialized in many places, most notably in North Carolina in Clinton and Chapel Hill and in Alabama in Selma.
0 kommentar(er)
