William King (governor)
Encyclopedia
William King was an American
merchant, shipbuilder, army officer, and statesman from Bath
, Maine
. A proponent of statehood for Maine, he became its first Governor
when it separated from Massachusetts
in 1820.
. His formal education was limited to local schools (he spent one term at Phillips Academy
) and ended when he was thirteen. He was largely self educated. Starting as a hand in a saw-mill, he went on to open his own mill.
King was employed in a variety of businesses, including as a shipbuilder, then a ship-owner. He became the largest merchant shipping owner in Maine. He became a successful merchant and a significant real-estate investor. He opened the first cotton mill in Maine, at Brunswick
. He founded and was president of the first bank of Bath.
in 1795 and 1799. After he moved to Bath, he represented that town in 1804. He served in the Massachusetts Senate
for Lincoln County
from 1807 to 1811.
When the War of 1812
began, Massachusetts made him Major General of the militia, in charge of the Maine district. He devoted much of his attention to coastal shipping and defenses. He also led recruiting efforts for the regular army, for which he was made a Colonel in the United States Army
. In 1813 King began a seven-year effort that started with his petition to Massachusetts for separation.
In 1816 he was re-elected to the Massachusetts Senate
, and finally secured their approval for Maine to become a separate state, in 1818. The Missouri Compromise
allowed Maine to be recognized as a state on March 15, 1820. He was shortly thereafter elected Governor of the new state.
In May 1821, President James Monroe
named him as a special minister to negotiate a treaty with Spain
. By 1824 he had successfully negotiated a treaty that kept the United States from becoming embroiled in issues surrounding the Mexican
struggle for independence. He returned home and resumed private life.
With the shifting of political parties, he ran once more for governor, as a Whig in 1834, but lost.
, and as a trustee of Waterville College (now called Colby College
). He died at home, in Bath, Maine
on June 17, 1852 and is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery there.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
merchant, shipbuilder, army officer, and statesman from Bath
Bath, Maine
Bath is a city in Sagadahoc County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 9,266. It is the county seat of Sagadahoc County. Located on the Kennebec River, Bath is a port of entry with a good harbor. The city is popular with tourists, many drawn by its...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. A proponent of statehood for Maine, he became its first Governor
Governor of Maine
The governor of Maine is the chief executive of the State of Maine. Before Maine was admitted to the Union in 1820, Maine was part of Massachusetts and the governor of Massachusetts was chief executive....
when it separated from Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in 1820.
Personal and business career
William King was born to Richard King, a merchant and shipowner, and Mary Black, on February 9, 1768 at Scarborough, then in MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. His formal education was limited to local schools (he spent one term at Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy is a selective, co-educational independent boarding high school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, along with a post-graduate year...
) and ended when he was thirteen. He was largely self educated. Starting as a hand in a saw-mill, he went on to open his own mill.
King was employed in a variety of businesses, including as a shipbuilder, then a ship-owner. He became the largest merchant shipping owner in Maine. He became a successful merchant and a significant real-estate investor. He opened the first cotton mill in Maine, at Brunswick
Brunswick, Maine
Brunswick is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 20,278 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area. Brunswick is home to Bowdoin College, the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum, , and the...
. He founded and was president of the first bank of Bath.
Political career
King became active politically in 1795 as a member of the Democratic-Republican Party. He represented Topsham in the Massachusetts House of RepresentativesMassachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
in 1795 and 1799. After he moved to Bath, he represented that town in 1804. He served in the Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
for Lincoln County
Lincoln County, Maine
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 34,457. Its county seat is Wiscasset. It was founded in 1760 and named after the English city Lincoln. At its founding, it accounted for three-fifths of the State's land, and stretched east to Nova...
from 1807 to 1811.
When the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
began, Massachusetts made him Major General of the militia, in charge of the Maine district. He devoted much of his attention to coastal shipping and defenses. He also led recruiting efforts for the regular army, for which he was made a Colonel in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. In 1813 King began a seven-year effort that started with his petition to Massachusetts for separation.
In 1816 he was re-elected to the Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
, and finally secured their approval for Maine to become a separate state, in 1818. The Missouri Compromise
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was an agreement passed in 1820 between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the United States Congress, involving primarily the regulation of slavery in the western territories. It prohibited slavery in the former Louisiana Territory north of the parallel 36°30'...
allowed Maine to be recognized as a state on March 15, 1820. He was shortly thereafter elected Governor of the new state.
In May 1821, President James Monroe
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
named him as a special minister to negotiate a treaty with Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. By 1824 he had successfully negotiated a treaty that kept the United States from becoming embroiled in issues surrounding the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
struggle for independence. He returned home and resumed private life.
With the shifting of political parties, he ran once more for governor, as a Whig in 1834, but lost.
Later life
King continued as a prominent business man, investor, and ship-owner. Even though he had a very limited education he served for years as a trustee and overseer of Bowdoin CollegeBowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
, and as a trustee of Waterville College (now called Colby College
Colby College
Colby College is a private liberal arts college located on Mayflower Hill in Waterville, Maine. Founded in 1813, it is the 12th-oldest independent liberal arts college in the United States...
). He died at home, in Bath, Maine
Bath, Maine
Bath is a city in Sagadahoc County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 9,266. It is the county seat of Sagadahoc County. Located on the Kennebec River, Bath is a port of entry with a good harbor. The city is popular with tourists, many drawn by its...
on June 17, 1852 and is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery there.
Further reading
- Smith, Joshua M. ""The Yankee Soldier's Might: The District of Maine and the Reputation of the Massachusetts Militia, 1800-1812," New England Quarterly LXXXIV no. 2 (June, 2011), 234-264.
- Marion Smith; "General William King: Merchant, Shipbuilder, and Maine's first Governor"; 1980, Down East Books, ISBN 0-89272-072-7.