King was born in 1755 in what is now Maine.
He was the eldest son of a wealthy farmer and merchant and graduated from Harvard.
He studied the law and entered practice in Massachusetts.
An excellent speaker and early opponent of slavery, King served in the Massachusetts legislature and the Continental Congress.
One of the youngest delegates to the Philadelphia Convention, King was also one of the best speakers, arguing for a stronger national government.
His notes on the event at the convention have been of interest to historians.
In 1788, King moved to New York, where he became active in state politics and was chosen as a U.S. senator several times.
He also served as a director of the First Bank of the United States and as minister to Great Britain.
King ran for vice president twice and president once, but lost each time.
