James King of William was an American editor and businessman. He served as an editor of the Daily Evening Express from 1855 to 1856 and was shot in the chest by James P. Casey.
Background
James King of William was born on January 28, 1822 at Georgetown, D. C. , United States, the youngest son of William King, a native of Ireland. He adopted the suffix "of William" (his father's name) in order to distinguish himself from other James Kings.
Education
King of William received his education at Georgetown, D. C.
Career
When about fifteen James left home to earn his living, going first to Pittsburgh, where for a year he was clerk in a store. Then, after a brief stay in Berrien and St. Joseph, Michigan, ill health caused his return to Georgetown in 1838, where he became a post-office clerk. Between 1840 and 1848 he was connected with Kendall's Expositor, a Democratic campaign paper, with the Washington Daily Globe, and with the banking house of Corcoran & Riggs of Washington.
Letters from an elder brother, Henry, a member of Colonel Frémont's exploring expeditions (1846 - 1848), led him to set out for the Pacific Coast, May 24, 1848, by way of Panama and Valparaiso. At the latter place he learned of the discovery of gold in California and started thither. After reaching San Francisco, November 10, 1848, he had a brief but successful experience in digging gold at Hangtown (Placerville). Shortly thereafter he was in business in Sacramento. Seeing the possibilities of profitable banking in the new country, he went East, secured capital, and opened a bank in San Francisco, December 5, 1849. As a banker, he carried on an extensive and lucrative business. He was reported in 1853 to be worth $250, 000. The dishonesty of a trusted agent, however, brought the institution to the verge of bankruptcy, and King used up his private fortune in paying creditors and depositors. In June 1854, he became cashier for the express and banking firm of Adams & Company. When that firm failed in February 1855, he turned to newspaper work.
On borrowed capital, he started a small newspaper, the Daily Evening Bulletin. The first issue appeared October 8, 1855, with King in full control. In his editorial position, he gave free rein to the instincts of a militant reformer. He had been a member of the first Vigilante in San Francisco (1851), and one of its executive committee. In 1853 he had been foreman of a grand jury which, in the face of murderous threats, returned an indictment against the city treasurer. He viewed the flagrant immorality and unblushing public corruption of the day with implacable hatred. From its first appearance, the Evening Bulletin fairly bristled with scourging attacks upon every person, firm, institution, judge, and law-maker--all called by name--that he regarded as guilty of dishonesty, corruption, wickedness, or fraud. At the some point, his attacks infuriated the corrupt and criminal element. Finally, James P. Casey, the owner of the Sunday Times, a politician with a Sing Sing record, whose character had been incidentally assailed, shot King, openly and without warning, on the streets of San Francisco, May 14, 1856. He lingered for several days, dying on May 20. So great was the popular sympathy for the family, that a public subscription of nearly $32, 000 was raised and presented to the widow and children.
Meantime, Casey had surrendered to the authorities. So low was public confidence in their integrity, however, that it was generally believed justice would be thwarted. In less than a week, therefore, the Vigilante had been revived, had compelled the sheriff to surrender the prisoner, and had tried and convicted him. His execution occurred at the very hour of King's funeral.
Achievements
King of William became the prominent banker and author of articles and was noted for establishing a bank in San Francisco and founding the newspaper entitled "Daily Evening Bulletin". His newspaper, with the main focus on criminal elements, had a great success and became the forum in which all kinds of public questions were discussed by correspondents. King was among the first newspapermen to be honored by the California Journalism Hall of Fame.
Connections
In 1843 King married Charlotte M. Libbey of Georgetown. In 1851 she and their four children joined her husband in San Francisco. They and two other children survived him.