Alexander Campbell King

Alexander Campbell King
Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
In office May 24, 1920 – December 31, 1924
Appointed by	Woodrow Wilson
Preceded by	Don Albert Pardee
Succeeded by	Rufus Edward Foster
16th Solicitor General of the United States
In office November 21, 1918 – May 24, 1920
President	Woodrow Wilson
Preceded by	John W. Davis
Succeeded by	William L. Frierson
Personal details
Born	Alexander Campbell King (1856-12-07)December 7, 1856 Charleston, South Carolina
Died	July 25, 1926(1926-07-25) (aged 69) Flat Rock, North Carolina
Resting place	Atlanta, Georgia
Residence(s)	Atlanta, Georgia
Education	Sewanee: The University of the South read law

Alexander Campbell King (December 7, 1856 – July 25, 1926) was the 16th Solicitor General of the United States and a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. King was a founding partner of the international law firm of King & Spalding.

Born on December 7, 1856, in Charleston, South Carolina,^[1] to J. Gadsden King and Carolina Clifford (Postell) King,^[2] King read law in 1875, at 19 years of age.^[1] He entered private practice in Atlanta, Georgia from 1875 to 1918,^[1] serving as general legal counsel to various railroad companies.^[2] For the Atlanta & West Point Railroad he took the position of assistant general counsel from 1887 to 1893, simultaneously serving as general counsel for the East & West Railroad of Alabama from 1887 to 1889, and again as assistant general counsel to the Richmond and Danville Railroad and Richmond & West Point Terminal Co., from 1890 to 1892.^[2] Lastly, King represented the Chattanooga, Rome and Columbus Railroad from 1894 to 1901.^[2] In 1912, King was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, as a committee member to report on revision in equity in United States courts.^[2] He also served on the board of directors, and as one term Chairman, of the State Bar Examiners for the State of Georgia from 1913 to 1918.^[2] In 1916, King received a civil law degree from Sewanee: The University of the South, in Sewanee, Tennessee.^[2]

King was the 16th Solicitor General of the United States from November 21, 1918 to May 24, 1920.^[2] 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.^[2] During this time he also served as a counselor for the American Red Cross.^[2]

King was nominated by President Woodrow Wilson on April 29, 1920, to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit vacated by Judge Don Albert Pardee.^[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 24, 1920, and received his commission the same day.^[1] His service terminated on December 31, 1924, due to his resignation.^[1]

Following his resignation from the federal bench, King returned to private practice in Atlanta from 1925 to 1926,^[1] returning as a founding partner of the law firm of King, Spalding, MacDougal & Sibley (now King & Spalding).^[2][3] He died on July 25, 1926,^{[Death 1]} in Flat Rock, Henderson County, North Carolina.^[1] He was interred in Atlanta, where he resided.^[2] He was survived by his wife of 45 years, Alice May Fowler and his two sons.^[2]

• Alexander Campbell King Law Library

• Alexander Campbell King at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
•  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Solicitor General of the United States.

• Alexander Campbell King Law Library at the University of Georgia School of Law.
• Alexander Campbell King at Find a Grave