After three years with the railroad, King decided to change his career path and became a newspaper editor. He worked at the Albany Daily Advertiser and the Albany Evening Journal, which were published by Thurlow Weed, a leading figure in the New York's Whig Party. In 1839, King was appointed adjutant general of the New York State Militia by Governor William H. Seward, a political ally of Weed, and held this post until 1843.
In 1845, he left New York and moved to the Wisconsin Territory, accomplishing a mixture of politics (member of the 1848 Wisconsin constitutional convention), journalism (editor and part owner of the Milwaukee Sentinel and Gazette), and education (superintendent of schools in Milwaukee in 1859–1860, and a regent of the University of Wisconsin in 1848–1854).[5][6] King also organized and played in the first three baseball games played in the state of Wisconsin. The matches were played at the old State Fairgrounds (what is now the Marquette University campus) during the winter of 1859.[7]
Civil War
King was appointed by PresidentAbraham Lincoln as Minister to the Papal States in 1861 after being recommended by Secretary of State Seward. On his way to Rome when the Civil War broke out, he took a leave of absence to join the Union Army. He was appointed a brigadier general of the Wisconsin militia on April 15, 1861, and of U.S. Volunteers on May 17, and was given authorization to raise a Wisconsin regiment. King helped organize what came to be known as the famous Iron Brigade, the Second, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Wisconsin, and Nineteenth Indiana volunteers, which he commanded briefly.[8]
However, before the Iron Brigade saw combat, King was promoted on March 13, 1862, to command of a division (which included the Iron Brigade) in the I Corps of the Army of the Potomac replacing general Irvin McDowell. The Division's first action was in the Second Battle of Bull Run in August 1862.[9][10] On August 28, 1862, King received orders to advance on Warrenton Turnpike towards Centreville, Virginia. Later in the day, his division was attacked by Confederate forces under Stonewall Jackson's command. Suffering from epileptic seizures, King spent the battle in an ambulance wagon and turned over command of the division to Brig. Gen John P. Hatch, the ranking brigade commander. Hatch then led King's division at Second Bull Run and during the Maryland Campaign until being wounded at South Mountain. In December 1862, King served on the court-martial of Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter for disobedience and cowardice at Second Bull Run.
Returning to New York from Rome in 1868, King served for two years as deputy comptroller of customs for the Port of New York, but then retired on account of failing health. He quietly lived in retirement until he died in New York City on October 13, 1876.[12] He is buried in Grace Churchyard, Jamaica, New York.
Legacy
Rufus King International High School, formerly Rufus King High School, in Milwaukee is named for him. The school's teams are known as the Generals.
^Eicher, p. 333, cites the July date of birth; Warner, p. 269, January.
^Cullum, George W. Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. from its Establishment, in 1802, to 1890 with the Early History of the United States Military Academy. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, 1891.
^"Rufus King". The Civil War in the East. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
^Still, Bayrd. Milwaukee: The History of a City. Madison: State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1948.
^Charles King. "Rufus King: Soldier, Editor, and Statesman". Wisconsin Magazine of History, vol. 4, no. 4 (June 1921), pp. 371-381.
^Podoll, Brian. The Minor League Milwaukee Brewers. McFarland & Company, 2003. ISBN978-0-7864-1455-0.
^Ethan S. Rafuse. King, Rufus, American National Biography Online. February 2000. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
^Hennessy, John J. Return to Bull Run: The Campaign and Battle of Second Manassas. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1993.
^Gaff, Alan D. Brave Men's Tears: The Iron Brigade at Brawner Farm. Dayton, Ohio: Morningside, 1988.
^Stock, Leo F. United States Ministers to the Papal States: Instructions and Despatches, 1848-1868. Washington, D.C: Catholic University Press, 1933, pp. 278-440.
^Johnson, Rossiter; Brown, John Howard, eds. (1904). The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans. Vol. VI. Boston: The Biographical Society. Retrieved May 2, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
rufus, king, general, other, people, named, rufus, king, rufus, king, disambiguation, rufus, king, january, 1814, october, 1876, american, newspaper, editor, public, servant, diplomat, soldier, served, union, army, brigadier, general, american, civil, responsi. For other people named Rufus King see Rufus King disambiguation Rufus King January 26 1814 October 13 1876 was an American newspaper editor public servant diplomat and soldier He served as a Union Army brigadier general in the American Civil War and was responsible for assembling the famed Iron Brigade of the Army of the Potomac He was later U S minister ambassador to the Papal States from 1864 to 1867 and was instrumental in the capture of accused Lincoln assassination plotter John Surratt Earlier in life he had been a member of the first board of regents of the University of Wisconsin 1 Rufus KingA photograph of King taken between 1855 18655th United States Minister to the Papal StatesIn office January 8 1864 August 17 1867PresidentAbraham Lincoln Andrew JohnsonPreceded byRichard M BlatchfordSucceeded byDiplomatic relations severed17th Adjutant General of New YorkIn office January 1839 January 1843Preceded byAllan MacdonaldSucceeded byLyman SanfordPersonal detailsBorn 1814 01 26 January 26 1814New York City New York U S DiedOctober 13 1876 1876 10 13 aged 62 New York City New York U S Resting placeGrace Episcopal Churchyard Jamaica New YorkSpouse s Ellen Eliot m 1836 died 1838 wbr Susan Eliot m 1843 1876 wbr ChildrenRufus Jr CharlesParentsCharles King father Eliza Gracie mother SignatureMilitary serviceAllegianceUnited StatesBranch serviceUnited States ArmyNew York MilitiaUnited States VolunteersUnion ArmyYears of service1833 1836 USA 1839 1843 NY 1861 1863 USV RankBrigadier General USVCommandsIron BrigadeBattles warsAmerican Civil War Contents 1 Early life 2 Family 3 Moving to Wisconsin 4 Civil War 5 Postbellum career 6 Legacy 7 See also 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External linksEarly life EditKing was born in New York City New York to Charles King president of Columbia College and Eliza Gracie 2 He was the grandson of Rufus King delegate for Massachusetts to the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention and U S Senator from New York The Kings were part of the King family of Massachusetts New York and Maine After graduation from Columbia Grammar amp Preparatory School King enrolled in the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1829 and graduated the fourth in his class 3 He was commissioned into the United States Corps of Engineers in 1833 but resigned in 1836 to become the civil engineer for the New York and Erie Railroad 4 After three years with the railroad King decided to change his career path and became a newspaper editor He worked at the Albany Daily Advertiser and the Albany Evening Journal which were published by Thurlow Weed a leading figure in the New York s Whig Party In 1839 King was appointed adjutant general of the New York State Militia by Governor William H Seward a political ally of Weed and held this post until 1843 Family EditIn 1836 King married Ellen Eliot who died two years into marriage they had no children After five years King married her sister Susan Eliot and they had two children His son Rufus King Jr became a Union Army officer of the U S Horse Artillery Brigade and was awarded the Medal of Honor his other son Charles King became a brigadier general of volunteers during the Spanish American War and a writer of Western novels Moving to Wisconsin EditIn 1845 he left New York and moved to the Wisconsin Territory accomplishing a mixture of politics member of the 1848 Wisconsin constitutional convention journalism editor and part owner of the Milwaukee Sentinel and Gazette and education superintendent of schools in Milwaukee in 1859 1860 and a regent of the University of Wisconsin in 1848 1854 5 6 King also organized and played in the first three baseball games played in the state of Wisconsin The matches were played at the old State Fairgrounds what is now the Marquette University campus during the winter of 1859 7 Civil War EditKing was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln as Minister to the Papal States in 1861 after being recommended by Secretary of State Seward On his way to Rome when the Civil War broke out he took a leave of absence to join the Union Army He was appointed a brigadier general of the Wisconsin militia on April 15 1861 and of U S Volunteers on May 17 and was given authorization to raise a Wisconsin regiment King helped organize what came to be known as the famous Iron Brigade the Second Fifth Sixth and Seventh Wisconsin and Nineteenth Indiana volunteers which he commanded briefly 8 However before the Iron Brigade saw combat King was promoted on March 13 1862 to command of a division which included the Iron Brigade in the I Corps of the Army of the Potomac replacing general Irvin McDowell The Division s first action was in the Second Battle of Bull Run in August 1862 9 10 On August 28 1862 King received orders to advance on Warrenton Turnpike towards Centreville Virginia Later in the day his division was attacked by Confederate forces under Stonewall Jackson s command Suffering from epileptic seizures King spent the battle in an ambulance wagon and turned over command of the division to Brig Gen John P Hatch the ranking brigade commander Hatch then led King s division at Second Bull Run and during the Maryland Campaign until being wounded at South Mountain In December 1862 King served on the court martial of Maj Gen Fitz John Porter for disobedience and cowardice at Second Bull Run King performed garrison duty at Fort Monroe Virginia and was a military governor of Norfolk His epileptic seizures became more frequent and in October 1863 King resigned his commission and succeeded Richard Milford Blatchford as Minister to the Papal States He served until the end of 1867 and was instrumental in apprehending John Surratt in Rome 11 Postbellum career EditReturning to New York from Rome in 1868 King served for two years as deputy comptroller of customs for the Port of New York but then retired on account of failing health He quietly lived in retirement until he died in New York City on October 13 1876 12 He is buried in Grace Churchyard Jamaica New York Legacy EditRufus King International High School formerly Rufus King High School in Milwaukee is named for him The school s teams are known as the Generals See also Edit American Civil War portal Politics portal Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rufus King general List of American Civil War generals Union References Edit King Gen Rufus 1814 1876 Wisconsin Historical Society Retrieved November 22 2022 Eicher p 333 cites the July date of birth Warner p 269 January Cullum George W Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U S Military Academy at West Point N Y from its Establishment in 1802 to 1890 with the Early History of the United States Military Academy Boston Houghton Mifflin 1891 Rufus King The Civil War in the East Retrieved January 6 2015 Still Bayrd Milwaukee The History of a City Madison State Historical Society of Wisconsin 1948 Charles King Rufus King Soldier Editor and Statesman Wisconsin Magazine of History vol 4 no 4 June 1921 pp 371 381 Podoll Brian The Minor League Milwaukee Brewers McFarland amp Company 2003 ISBN 978 0 7864 1455 0 Ethan S Rafuse King Rufus American National Biography Online February 2000 Retrieved January 26 2016 Hennessy John J Return to Bull Run The Campaign and Battle of Second Manassas New York Simon amp Schuster 1993 Gaff Alan D Brave Men s Tears The Iron Brigade at Brawner Farm Dayton Ohio Morningside 1988 Stock Leo F United States Ministers to the Papal States Instructions and Despatches 1848 1868 Washington D C Catholic University Press 1933 pp 278 440 Johnson Rossiter Brown John Howard eds 1904 The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans Vol VI Boston The Biographical Society Retrieved May 2 2022 via Internet Archive Further reading EditEicher John H and Eicher David J Civil War High Commands Stanford University Press 2001 ISBN 0 8047 3641 3 Warner Ezra J Generals in Blue Lives of the Union Commanders Louisiana State University Press 1964 ISBN 0 8071 0822 7 External links Edit Rufus King Find a Grave Retrieved February 12 2008 Rufus King at Wisconsin PeopleMilitary officesPreceded byAllan Macdonald Adjutant General of New YorkJanuary 1839 January 1843 Succeeded byLyman SanfordDiplomatic postsPreceded byRichard M Blatchford United States Minister to the Papal StatesJanuary 8 1864 August 17 1867 Diplomatic relations severed Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rufus King general amp oldid 1123172952, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
