career soldier, author, professor, b. Albany, N.Y. The son of Rufus King (q.v.), he moved with his parents to Milwaukee in 1845. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (1866), was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant, and in 1870 was promoted to 1st lieutenant. In 1871 he was transferred from the 1st Artillery to the 5th Cavalry, and served until 1874 as aide-de-camp, acting judge advocate, and engineering officer in the Department of the Gulf. He participated in several Indian campaigns, including those against the Apaches (1874), the Sioux and Cheyenne (1876), and the Nez Pere (1877). While fighting against the Apache, he was wounded in action at Sunset Pass, Ariz. In 1879 he was promoted to captain, and retired the same year because of disability from his wounds. Returning to Wisconsin, he was professor of military tactics at the Univ. of Wisconsin (1880-1882), inspector and instructor for the Wisconsin National Guard (1882-1889), and colonel in command of the 4th Regiment, Infantry, Wisconsin National Guard (1890-1892). He was adjutant general of Wisconsin (1895-1897), and served as colonel and aide-de- camp to Governors Rusk and Hoard (1882-1891). At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, King was called from retirement, and served in the Philippines as brigadier general, U.S. Volunteers (1898-1899). He then taught military science and tactics at St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, and was on duty with the Wisconsin National Guard from 1904 until his retirement in 1931. He was the author of Famous and Decisive Battles of the World (1884), The True Ulysses S. Grant (1914), as well as numerous novels and short stories on army life. Wis. Mag. Hist., 5, 6; N.Y. Times, Mar. 18, 1933; Milwaukee Journal, Mar. 17, 1933; C. King Papers.

The Wisconsin Historical Society has manuscripts related to this topic. See the catalog description of the Charles King Papers for details.

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[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]