William S. King
William Smith King (December 16, 1828 – February 24, 1900) was a Republican U.S. Representative for Minnesota from March 4, 1875, to March 3, 1877. He was a journalist and businessman. He is best known for allegations of political corruption during this congressional term. The House of Representatives did not specify his offense, but decided it was constitutionally unable to punish him for actions that took place before he entered Congress. He did not run for reelection. Early life William S. King was born to Reverend Lyndon King in Malone, New York, in Franklin County on December 16, 1828. At the age of 12, his mother died and he left home and became a farm hand. Career Early career In 1846, he moved to Otsego County, New York, and worked as a solicitor for mutual insurance companies. He began a newspaper career in Cooperstown, New York, in 1852 by becoming an editor of the Free Democrat, a campaign paper in Cooperstown for George Washington Julian and John P. Hale, Free Soil Party candidates for U.S. President. He received the title of Colonel while serving under General Burnside in the New York Guard. Newspaper career King moved to Minneapolis in the