Rutland

KING, Royal Daniel

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, p 236 
(portrait p 236)

Royal Daniel KING, of Benson, was born 17 November 1824 in Benson [Rutland 
County, Vermont], son of Horace and Eunice (BELDEN) KING. His grandfather, a 
Revolutionary veteran, after the war of independence moved from Connecticut 
and settled in the town of Benson. Mr. Royal D. KING received his 
preliminary instruction in district and private schools, fitted for college 
at Castleton Seminary [Rutland County], and graduated from the University of 
Vermont in 1846. His life has been mainly devoted to teaching, though he 
spent some time in the law office of Smalley & Phelps of Burlington 
[Chittenden County, Vermont]. He has been an instructor both in Vermont and 
in Illinois. His first presidential vote was cast for Henry CLAY, and he has 
acted with the Republican party since its inception. He has taken an active 
part in the public work of Benson, serving for a long period as town 
superintendent of schools, and being selectman at the outbreak of the Civil 
War, he was especially energetic in the enlistment of soldiers, until he 
himself was mustered into the U. S. service, 10 September 1862, in Company D, 
Fourteenth Regiment Vermont Volunteers, with which command he honorably 
served until after the victory of Gettsyburg, when he was mustered out with 
the regiment 30 July 1863. Mr. KING was elected as representative from 
Benson to the state legislature in 1852 and 1854, and was appointed a member 
of the committee on education in both sessions; was appointed town 
superintendent and held the position up to March 1880; was also elected 
senator from Rutland County in 1880, where he again served on the committee 
on education and also on that of the library. For several years he was 
secretary of Acacia Lodge, Free & Accepted Masons.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly