President of Columbia College (now Columbia University) from 1849 to 1864. A politician and newspaper publisher, Charles King was elected president of Columbia College at age 60. Although King was in no way an educator, his administration was marked by significant progress and expansion. He was educated in Harrow, England. King was captain of a volunteer regiment in the early part of the War of 1812, and served in 1814 in the New York Assembly. After this, he became a newspaper publisher. He was editor of New York American from 1823 to 1845. As a Democrat, repeatedly clashed with Mordecai M. Noah, then Editor of the New York Enquirer. His father, Rufus King, signed the U.S. Constitution. Charles King married twice and had a total of 14 children.