John Pendleton King, American railroad executive, senator member United States Senate from Georgia (Democrat), 1833-1837.
Background
He married Mary Louise Woodward, daughter of John Woodward and wife Harriet Bixby, and had at least two daughters: Grace Sterling King, married to John McPherson Berrien Connelly and had issue, and Mary Livingstone King, married to Henry Paget, 4th Marquess of Anglesey (1835–1898).
Education
He graduated from the Academy of Richmond County in Augusta, and studied law.
Career
He was admitted to the bar in 1819 and practiced in Augusta. King pursued studies in Europe from 1822 to 1824. He returned and continued the practice of law in Augusta until 1829.
He was appointed judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1831.
He was elected in 1833 as a Jacksonian (later Democrat) to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of George M. Troup. He was reelected in 1834 and served from November 21, 1833, until November 1, 1837, when he resigned.
After his time in politics, King became president of the Georgia Railroad and Banking Company from 1841 to 1878. King died in Summerville, Georgia and was interred in Saint Paul"s Churchyard, Augusta.
He is the namesake of the city of Kingston, Georgia.
He was also a slave owner. In 1830, he owned 22 slaves in Augusta, Georgia. In 1840, he owned 55 slaves.
In 1850, he owned 57 slaves.
In 1860, he owned 68 slaves.
Politics
Jacksonian Democracy, Democratic Party.
Membership
He was a member of the State constitutional conventions in 1830 and 1833. He was then a railroad promoter and cotton manufacturer, and was a member of the State constitutional convention in 1865.