William Rufus DeVane King was born on April 7, 1786, in Sampson County, North Carolina. His ancestry reached back to some of the earliest European settlers in the Southern colonies. His father, William King, was of Irish descent, with ancestors believed to have emigrated from Ulster to the American colonies in the early 1700s. The King family settled in North Carolina, became landowners, and participated in the region’s political and agricultural life. His grandfather, also named William King, is believed to have fought in the colonial militia during the French and Indian War.
William’s mother, Margaret DeVane, belonged to a family of French Huguenot and English lineage. The DeVanes had settled in the Carolinas in the early 18th century, escaping religious persecution and bringing with them traditions of independence and agricultural skill. Margaret’s father, John DeVane, was a planter and a patriot during the American Revolution. The King and DeVane families were both known for civic involvement, and together, they provided a strong foundation of wealth, status, and public service that would influence William’s future path.
Education and Legal Beginnings
As a child of privilege and political promise, William R. King received a classical education. He studied under private tutors before enrolling at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he graduated in 1803 at the age of 17. After studying law under Judge William Duffy, a respected North Carolina jurist, King was admitted to the bar in 1806. He practiced law briefly in Clinton, North Carolina, but his interest in public life soon led him into a career in politics.
Rise in National Politics
In 1807, King was elected to the North Carolina House of Commons. Just three years later, he was sent to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served from 1811 to 1816. During this time, he supported President James Madison and the War of 1812, aligning himself with the Democratic-Republican party. In 1816, he resigned to serve as Secretary of the Legation to Russia and Naples, accompanying William Pinkney, the U.S. minister to Russia and Naples. This mission marked King’s first major diplomatic service.
Upon returning to the United States, King joined the westward movement and settled in what was then the Alabama Territory. He purchased a large tract of land near present-day Selma and established a cotton plantation known as Chestnut Hill. Like many Southern planters of his time, King relied on enslaved labor. He owned dozens of enslaved people, and his estate grew to be one of the largest in the region. Chestnut Hill became both a profitable enterprise and a social center for Alabama’s political elite.
Senator from Alabama and National Statesman
When Alabama achieved statehood in 1819, King was chosen as one of its first U.S. Senators. Over the next three decades, he served in the Senate for all but a few years. Known for his moderate tone and sense of decorum, King emerged as a steady and respected figure. He was not a headline-grabber but was trusted by colleagues across party lines.
King served multiple times as President pro tempore of the Senate, effectively placing him third in line for the presidency at various points. He became closely aligned with the policies of President Andrew Jackson and supported measures like the Indian Removal Act and opposition to the national bank. Though a Southern slaveholder, he opposed radical calls for disunion and consistently urged compromise and preservation of the Union.
In 1844, President James K. Polk appointed him as U.S. Minister to France. During his tenure, King successfully helped resolve trade disagreements and strengthened diplomatic relations, though tensions remained over issues such as the Oregon boundary and French involvement in Mexico.
The Buchanan Connection and Personal Life
One of the most talked-about aspects of King’s life was his long and close relationship with fellow Democrat James Buchanan. The two shared a Washington boardinghouse and were constant companions for over a decade. Their deep friendship was remarked upon by political insiders and journalists of the time. Andrew Jackson once referred to them as “Miss Nancy and Aunt Fancy,” a reflection of the era’s sharp-tongued political banter.
While some modern historians have speculated about the nature of their relationship, there is no definitive evidence in the surviving correspondence to suggest anything beyond a close and possibly affectionate bond. What is certain is that neither man ever married, and their social and political partnership was unusually enduring.
Vice Presidential Nomination and Illness
In 1852, the Democratic National Convention selected King as Franklin Pierce’s running mate. Though already battling tuberculosis, King accepted the nomination. He was too ill to campaign and eventually sailed to Cuba in hopes that the tropical climate would ease his suffering.
His health did not improve. On March 4, 1853, in a highly unusual and unprecedented event, Congress passed a special law allowing him to take the oath of office outside U.S. soil. He was sworn in as Vice President by the U.S. consul in Matanzas, Cuba.
He returned home to Alabama shortly afterward, arriving at Chestnut Hill a frail and dying man. On April 18, 1853, just 45 days into his term, William R. King passed away in his sleep. He was 67 years old. His vice presidency remains the shortest in American history.
Death, Burial, and Estate
King was buried at Live Oak Cemetery in Selma, Alabama. His grave is marked with a large obelisk, and his memory is preserved locally in several place names, including King Street in Selma and the nearby town of Kings Bend. His plantation house at Chestnut Hill was demolished in the 20th century, but records of his estate and ownership of enslaved individuals have been preserved in archives.
Though King had no children, he left behind a considerable estate that passed to relatives in the King and DeVane families. Some of these relatives went on to hold local office or manage portions of the family’s remaining land. His papers, including correspondence with Buchanan and other figures, are held today at the Alabama Department of Archives and History.
Legacy and Historical Significance
William R. King is often remembered for the brevity of his vice presidency, but that alone overlooks a much broader legacy. He served in Congress for over 30 years, represented the nation abroad, and helped establish the political identity of the newly formed state of Alabama. His steady temperament, long experience, and commitment to preserving the Union made him a trusted voice in an increasingly fractured nation.
From a genealogical standpoint, King’s roots illustrate the blending of early Irish and French Protestant immigrant lines in the colonial South. His paternal ancestors contributed to the founding of settlements in North Carolina, while his maternal DeVane ancestors played a significant role in shaping the region’s agricultural and civic life.
He lived at the intersection of privilege and public service—born into wealth, educated in the finest schools, and afforded opportunities through both family connections and personal merit. He rose to near the top of the political ladder, only to be cut short by illness before he could fully serve.
Conclusion
William R. King’s story is a window into a changing America—a country growing outward, grappling with slavery, and trying to balance power between states and federal authority. His name may not be widely known today, but for those who look closely, his life tells a deeper story of duty, diplomacy, and endurance.
In this ongoing series on Vice Presidents who never became President, King reminds us that sometimes the most influential figures are not the ones who finish at the top but the ones who help carry the weight of government over time. His career was shaped by loyalty, steadiness, and a strong family heritage. A quiet statesman from North Carolina who, through Alabama and Washington, helped shape the early republic.
