William R. King
Vice president of the United States from March to April 1853 (1786-1853) · United States · Politicians · Died at 67
William R. King is read about 315 times a day, in 54 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 15 October 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 390 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?The only U.S. vice president sworn in on foreign soil - tuberculosis had him so far gone Congress let him take the oath in Cuba. He died six weeks later without ever performing a single duty of the office.
Also in Deutsch
Photos 8
.jpg?width=1200)
.jpg?width=1200)
In their orbit
About this person
William Rufus DeVane King came up through North Carolina politics before Alabama statehood made him one of its first senators in 1819. A Democratic-Republican who aligned with Andrew Jackson, he served multiple Senate terms and rose to president pro tempore, threading the needle on slavery's expansion: he supported it in the territories and opposed abolitionists, but also opposed secession as the sectional crisis deepened. He served as minister to France before the Democrats tapped him for vice president on Franklin Pierce's 1852 ticket. By then tuberculosis was killing him. Congress made an exception so he could take the oath in Cuba on March 4, 1853. He died in Alabama on April 18, forty-five days into the term, having never set foot in Washington as vice president. Historians have since examined his unusually close relationship with James Buchanan.
Politicians from the United States 6
Fame.am measures public visibility signals. It does not measure human value, talent, morality, or credibility.