Alexander C. King
Encyclopedia
Alexander Campbell King was Solicitor General of the United States and later a United States federal judge
.
to J. Gadsden and Caroline Clifford (Postell), King read law and was admitted to the South Carolina
Bar in 1875 at the age of nineteen, although he had not finished college. Following his admittance to the bar, King entered private practice in Atlanta, Georgia
and began a series of jobs serving as general legal counsel to various railroad companies. For the Atlanta & West Point Railroad he took the position of assistant general counsel (1887–1893), simultaneously serving as general counsel for the East & West Railroad of Alabama (1887–1889), and again as assistant general counsel to the Richmond & Danville Railroad and Richmond & West Point Terminal Co., from 1890-1892. Lastly, King represented the Chattanooga, Rome & Columbus Railroad from 1894-1901. In 1912, King was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit, as a committee member to report on revision in equity in U.S. courts. He also served on the board of directors, and as one term chairman, of the Georgia State Bar Examiners from 1913-1918. In 1916, King received a civil law degree from the Sewanee, The University of the South
, in Sewanee, Tennessee
.
In November 1918, President Woodrow Wilson
appointed King to serve as Solicitor General
. With his breadth of knowledge in railroad legislation he was a valuable asset to the administration, contributing his expertise when faced with cases involving the Southern Pacific Railroad
throughout 1919. During this time he also served as a counselor for the American Red Cross
. On April 29, 1920, President Wilson nominated King to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
vacated by Don Albert Pardee
. King was confirmed by the United States Senate
on May 24, 1920, and received his commission the same day.
After his judicial appointment, King resigned from his position as Solicitor General. He served on the Fifth Circuit until December 31, 1924, upon which he resigned to become a partner in the firm of King, Spalding, MacDougal & Sibley
, near his home in Atlanta, Georgia
. King died soon thereafter, in Flat Rock, North Carolina
. He was survived by his wife of 45 years, Alice May Fowler, and sons Edward and Alexander C., and laid to rest in Atlanta, Georgia.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Biography
Born in Charleston, South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
to J. Gadsden and Caroline Clifford (Postell), King read law and was admitted to the South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
Bar in 1875 at the age of nineteen, although he had not finished college. Following his admittance to the bar, King entered private practice in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
and began a series of jobs serving as general legal counsel to various railroad companies. For the Atlanta & West Point Railroad he took the position of assistant general counsel (1887–1893), simultaneously serving as general counsel for the East & West Railroad of Alabama (1887–1889), and again as assistant general counsel to the Richmond & Danville Railroad and Richmond & West Point Terminal Co., from 1890-1892. Lastly, King represented the Chattanooga, Rome & Columbus Railroad from 1894-1901. In 1912, King was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit, as a committee member to report on revision in equity in U.S. courts. He also served on the board of directors, and as one term chairman, of the Georgia State Bar Examiners from 1913-1918. In 1916, King received a civil law degree from the Sewanee, The University of the South
Sewanee, The University of the South
The University of the South is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Sewanee, Tennessee. It is owned by twenty-eight southern dioceses of the Episcopal Church and its School of Theology is an official seminary of the church. The university's School of Letters offers graduate...
, in Sewanee, Tennessee
Sewanee, Tennessee
Sewanee is an unincorporated locality in Franklin County, Tennessee, United States, treated by the U.S. Census as a census-designated place . The population was 2,361 at the 2000 census...
.
In November 1918, President Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
appointed King to serve as Solicitor General
United States Solicitor General
The United States Solicitor General is the person appointed to represent the federal government of the United States before the Supreme Court of the United States. The current Solicitor General, Donald B. Verrilli, Jr. was confirmed by the United States Senate on June 6, 2011 and sworn in on June...
. With his breadth of knowledge in railroad legislation he was a valuable asset to the administration, contributing his expertise when faced with cases involving the Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
throughout 1919. During this time he also served as a counselor for the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
. On April 29, 1920, President Wilson nominated King to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Louisiana* Middle District of Louisiana...
vacated by Don Albert Pardee
Don Albert Pardee
Don Albert Pardee was a United States federal judge.Born in Wadsworth, Ohio, Pardee read law to enter the Bar in 1859, and was in private practice in Medina County, Ohio from 1859 to 1861. He was in the United States Army during the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865, returning to private...
. King was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on May 24, 1920, and received his commission the same day.
After his judicial appointment, King resigned from his position as Solicitor General. He served on the Fifth Circuit until December 31, 1924, upon which he resigned to become a partner in the firm of King, Spalding, MacDougal & Sibley
King & Spalding
King & Spalding LLP is an American law firm with 125 years of service. It was founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1885 by Alexander C. King and Jack Spalding. The firm has expanded nationally, with offices in Austin, Charlotte, Houston, New York, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Washington, D.C...
, near his home in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. King died soon thereafter, in Flat Rock, North Carolina
Flat Rock, Henderson County, North Carolina
Flat Rock is a village in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,565 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Flat Rock Historic District.- Culture :Flat Rock is...
. He was survived by his wife of 45 years, Alice May Fowler, and sons Edward and Alexander C., and laid to rest in Atlanta, Georgia.