Introduction
James Gore King (May 8, 1791, New York City – October 3, 1853, Weehawken, New Jersey) was an American businessman and Whig Party politician who represented New Jersey's 5th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1849 to 1851. King was the third son of Rufus King, and brother of John Alsop King, who served as Governor of New York.
Early life
James Gore King was born in New York City on May 8, 1791 to Rufus King and Mary Alsop. He pursued classical studies in England and France, returned to United States and graduated from Harvard University in 1810. He studied law at the Litchfield Law School.
Career
During the War of 1812, he served as assistant adjutant general of the New York Militia.
After the war, he engaged in mercantile pursuits in New York City in 1815. In 1818, he established a banking establishment, King & Gracie, in Liverpool, England with his brother-in-law, Archibald Gracie, Jr.
In 1824, he returned to New York City and engaged in banking as a partner in the firm of Prime & Ward (thereafter Prime, Ward & King), with residence in Weehawken, New Jersey. In 1835, he became president of the Erie Railroad until 1837, when by his visit to London he secured the loan to American bankers of $1,000,000 from the governors of the Bank of England.
United States Congress
King was elected as a Whig to Congress, serving in office from March 4, 1849 to March 3, 1851, but declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1850.
Later career
After leaving Congress, he resumed the banking business. By this time the firm he had worked for had undergone dissolution, and so was succeeded by the House of James G. King & Son. He died at his country place, “Highwood,” near Weehawken on October 3, 1853, of a "congestion of the lungs" and was interred in the churchyard of Grace Church, Jamaica, N.Y.
Personal life
King married Sarah Rogers Gracie (1791–1878), the daughter of Archibald Gracie (1755–1829). Together they had:
- Caroline King (1813–1863), who married Denning Duer (1812–1891), son of William Alexander Duer
- Sarah Gracie King (1815–1815)
- Harriet King (1817–1838)
- James Gore King, Jr. (1819–1867)
- Archibald Gracie King (1821–1897), who married Elizabeth Denning Duer (1821–1900), daughter of William Alexander Duer
- Henry Myers King (1824–1825)
- Mary King (1826–1890)
- Frederika Gore King (1829–1916), who married Bancroft Davis (1822–1907), an American lawyer, judge, diplomat, and president of Newburgh and New York Railway Company.
- Edward King (1833–1908)
- Alsop King (1835–1836)
- Fanny King (1836–1905)
Descendants
His granddaughter, May Denning King (1848–1925) married John King Van Rensselaer (1847–1909), son of Henry Bell Van Rensselaer and grandson of Stephen Van Rensselaer III, the patroon of Rensselaerwyck. His great-great-granddaughter Ellin Travers Mackay married Irving Berlin. Another great-great-grandchild was Wolcott Gibbs, who was also a direct descendant of Martin Van Buren (James Gore King's grandson married Martin Van Buren's granddaughter, and Wolcott Gibbs was their grandson).