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King, William Rufus

vice-president of the United States, was born April 6, 1786, in Sampson county, N. C. He was a representative in congress from his native state from 1811 to 1816. In 1819 was elected a senator in congress from Alabama, where he continued until 1844. In 1846 he was again elected to the United States senate, where he remained until elected vice-president of the United States in 1852. During the twenty-fourth, twenty-fifth, twentysixth, thirty-first, and thirty-second congresses he officiated as president pro tem. of the senate, and as a presiding officer commanded universal respect. He died April 18, 1853, in Cahawba, Ala.