Preston King (politician)

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Preston King
Preston King - Brady-Handy.jpg
Photograph of King by Mathew Brady, c. 1855–1865.
United States Senator
from New York
In office
March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1863
Preceded by Hamilton Fish
Succeeded by Edwin D. Morgan
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 18th district
In office
March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1847
Preceded by Thomas C. Chittenden
Succeeded by William Collins
In office
March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1853
Preceded by William Collins
Succeeded by Peter Rowe
Personal details
Born (1806-10-14)October 14, 1806
Ogdensburg, New York
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
New York Harbor, New York City, New York
Political party Democrat, Free Soil, Republican

Preston King (14 October 1806 – 12 November 1865) was a United States Representative and Senator from New York.

Early life

King was born in Ogdensburg, New York on October 14, 1806.[1] He was the illegitimate son of John King and Margaret Galloway.[2][3] At an early age, he was committed to the guardianship of Louis Hasbrouck, an Ogdensburg lawyer.[4]

He pursued classical studies and graduated from Union College in 1827,[5] where he was an early member of The Kappa Alpha Society. He studied law and was admitted to the bar.[6]

Career

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Preston King

In 1830, he established the St. Lawrence Republican and was Postmaster of Ogdensburg from 1831 to 1834 during the administration of President Martin Van Buren.[7] He was a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly (St. Lawrence Co.) from 1835 to 1838, sitting in the 58th, 59th, 60th and 61st New York State Legislatures.[6]

King was elected as a Democrat to the 28th and 29th United States Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1843, to March 3, 1847. He was Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Invalid Pensions (29th Congress).[6] In 1847, when there was an open rupture between the Barnburners and Hunkers at the Democratic State Convention, King was made chairman of the former and Robert H. Morris of the latter.[7]

He was elected as a Free Soiler to the 31st and 32nd United States Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1849, to March 3, 1853.[6]

He was elected as a Republican to the U.S. Senate in February 1857, and served from March 4, 1857, to March 4, 1863. He was Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Revolutionary Claims (37th Congress).[6]

Later career

Afterwards he resumed the practice of law, was considered for the Republican vice-presidential nomination in 1860 and was a presidential elector on the Abraham Lincoln ticket in 1864,[6] where he was "largely instrumental in procuring the nomination of Andrew Johnson for the Vice-Presidency.[7] After the death of President Lincoln, he served as effective White House Chief of Staff during the early days of the Johnson Administration.[7]

On August 14, 1865, King was appointed by President Andrew Johnson Collector of the Port of New York, in an effort to eliminate corruption in the Port of New York and to heal divisions within the Republican Party.[8] After his death, he was succeeded by acting Collector Charles P. Clinch (brother-in-law of Alexander Turney Stewart).[9]

Personal life

According to The New York Times, he was "remarkable for obesity. Though short of stature--only five feet six inches--he weighed over two hundred and fifty pounds. He tried hard to reduce his flesh by a course of dieting, but failed. Latterly, he took little exercise, but did a great deal of toilsome mind work."[7]

Despairing of success, King committed suicide by tying a bag of bullets around his neck and leaping from a ferryboat in New York Harbor on November 13, 1865.[10] After a funeral at the Ogdensburg Episcopal Church, his remains were buried alongside his father and mother at the City Cemetery in Ogdensburg.[11]

References

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External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 18th congressional district
1843–1847		 Succeeded by
William Collins
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 18th congressional district
1849–1853		 Succeeded by
Peter Rowe
United States Senate
Preceded by U.S. Senator (Class 1) from New York
1857–1863
Served alongside: William H. Seward and Ira Harris		 Succeeded by
Edwin D. Morgan
Government offices
Preceded by Collector of the Port of New York
1865		 Succeeded by
Charles P. Clinch
Acting
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