Alexander Campbell King

"He was appointed Soliciter General of teh United States in 1918 and served until June 1920 when he was made United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit." (Charlton deSaussure)

Alexander Campbell King was born on December 7, 1856 in Charleston, South Carolina to J. Gadsden and Caroline Clifford (Postell). At the age of nineteen, King was admitted to the South Carolina Bar although he had not finished college. In 1916, King received a civil law degree from the Sewanee, The University of the South, in Sewanee, Tennessee. Following his admittance to the bar, King 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 State Bar Examiners from 1913-1918.

In November 1918, President 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. After his appointment as a judge to the U.S. 5th Circuit in May 1920, King resigned from his position as SG. He served the 5th District from 1920-1925, 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 on July 26, 1926. 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.

This article incorporates text obtained from the public domain Office of the Solicitor General.

Legal offices

Preceded by John W. Davis

Solicitor General 1918–1920

Succeeded by William L. Frierson

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_C._King)

Alexander Campbell King Law Library: http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/Institutions/ugalaw.html?Welcome

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Campbell_King

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.

Education and career

Born on December 7, 1856, in Charleston, South Carolina, to J. Gadsden King and Carolina Clifford (Postell) King. King read law in 1875, at 19 years of age. He entered private practice in Atlanta, Georgia from 1875 to 1918, serving as general legal counsel to various railroad companies. 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. Lastly, King represented the Chattanooga, Rome and Columbus Railroad from 1894 to 1901. 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. 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. In 1916, King received a civil law degree from Sewanee: The University of the South, in Sewanee, Tennessee.

King was the 16th Solicitor General of the United States from November 21, 1918 to May 24, 1920. 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.

Federal judicial service

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. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 24, 1920, and received his commission the same day. His service terminated on December 31, 1924, due to his resignation.

Post judicial service and death

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