James Gore King (1791-1853) - Find a Grave Memorial

US Congressman and Businessman. A member of the Whig Party, he served in the US House of Representatives from New Jersey's 5th congressional district for one term, from March 1849 until March 1851. His father was the first US Senator from the state of New York and also served as the US Ambassador to England on two separate occasions. After graduating from Harvard University at Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1810, he studied law and during the War of 1812, he became an assistant adjutant general in the New York state militia. Following the war, he opened the commodities firm James G. King and Company with his father-in-law, shipping magnate Archibald Gracie. In 1818 he moved to Liverpool, England and set up another commodities firm, King and Gracie. In 1824 he returned to the US and engaged in the banking business. From 1835 until 1839 he served as president of the New York and Erie Railroad. In 1848 he was elected to Congress, succeeding Dudley S. Gregory. During his tenure, he served on the Committee of Commerce and opposed the repeal of the Missouri Compromise and the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. He declined to run for a second term and returned to his banking business upon leaving office. He died of lung congestion at the age of 62.

Bio by: William Bjornstad