2397. General Rufus King, 1814–1879, son of (951) Hon. Charles and Eliza Gracie King, was married, Apr. 14, 1836, to Ellen Elliot, who died July 3, 1838. On Nov. 9, 1843, he was married to Susan Elliot, a sister of his first wife. Ellen and Susan Elliot were daughters of Robert Elliot, of Albany, N. Y., a lineal descendant of John Elliot, "the apostle, of the Indians."
General King, who was named for his illustrious grandfather, was born in New York City, and graduated at the United States Military Academy in 1833. He, however, did not long remain in the regular army, resigning Oct. 20, 1833, to accept an appointment as assistant engineer of Erie Railroad, a position which he held for several years. From 1839 to 1843 he was Adjutant General of the State of New York. While holding that office he was associate editor of The Albany Evening Journal, and from 1841 to 1845 of The Albany Advertiser. In the last mentioned year he removed to Wisconsin and became editor of The Milwaukee Sentinel, continuing as such to the year 1861. Meantime he was in 1849 a member of the Board of Visitors to the U. S. Military Academy, served as a member of the convention which framed the constitution of Wisconsin, and was a Regent of the State University.
On May 25, 1861, he was appointed by President Lincoln Minister to Rome, but on the 5th of August following resigned and offered his services in defense of the Union. He was promptly commissioned Brigadier General of Volunteers, and commanded a division at Fredericksburgh, Manassas, Yorktown, and on several other fields, remaining with the army until 1863, when he was reappointed Minister to Rome, continuing as such until 1867. His death occurred in New York City.
Child.
5096. Charles King, b. Oct. 12, 1844.
—Weygant, The Sacketts of America