James Gore King

     James Gore King was born on 8 May 1791 in New York City.^2,3 He was the son of Rufus King and Mary Alsop.¹ He married Sarah Rogers Gracie circa 1812.¹ He died on 3 October 1853 at his country place in Highwood, near Weehawken, Hudson County, New Jersey, at age 62.^1,2,3 He was buried in Grace Episcopal Churchyard, Jamaica, Queens County, New York.³
     
     James Gore King attended school in England and Paris and was graduated from Harvard in 1810. He commenced the study of law, but abandoned it to serve in the war of 1812 as an assistant adjutant-general of the New York militia. He established the commission house of James G. King & Co. in New York in 1815, and in 1818 removed to Liverpool, England, and established there, with William Gracie, his brother-in-law, the banking house of King & Gracie. In 1824 he returned to New York and was offered the presidency of the American Fur company by John Jacob Astor, which he declined. He entered the banking firm of Prime, Ward, Sands & Co. in 1824, which firm became Prime, Ward, King & Co. in 1826, and subsequently James G. King & Sons. He was active in promoting the construction of the New York and Erie railway and served for some time as president of the corporation, without remuneration. He resigned this post during the crisis of 1837, and used his influence in maintaining the credit of the New York banks. He visited London for this purpose, and persuaded the directors of the Bank of England, ou the guarantee of Baring Brothers & Co., to advance £1,000,000 to assist the banks, which relieved the panic. He was elected a member of the chamber of commerce in 1817; was vice-president, 1841-45, and president, 1845-48. He was a representative in the 31st congress from New Jersey, 1849-51, and retired to private life from Harvard College in 1810.^2,3