King was born in Sampson County, North Carolina, to William King and Margaret DeVane. His family was large, wealthy, and well-connected. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1803, where he was also a member of the Philanthropic Society. William Alexander Graham, whom King would later oppose in the election of 1852, attended the university at the same time (Graham was a member of the rival Dialectic Society). Admitted to the bar in 1806 after reading the law with Judge William Duffy of Fayetteville, North Carolina, he began practice in Clinton. King was an ardent Freemason and was a member of Fayetteville's Phoenix Lodge No. 8.
king WaS boRN iN samPsON CountY, NortH carOliNa, to willIAM kIng aNd maRgaRet dEvanE. HiS fAMIly WaS LARGe, WealThy, anD weLl-ConNEcted. he gRaduAted from the UniVersiTy Of nortH cArOLINa aT cHapel Hill IN 1803, whEre He wAS also a membEr Of The PhilantHrOpiC socIety. wIlliaM AlexandER Graham, WHom kIng woUld Later oPpOse in thE EleCtiOn Of 1852, AtTendeD the univerSiTy aT the same Time (GrAhAm WAs A MemBer of tHe rivAl dialectic socIEty). admITTEd tO THe Bar iN 1806 after rEaDiNg tHE lAw WiTH judge wilLiaM DuFfY Of faYettEvillE, nortH Carolina, He bEgan PRactice in clintoN. kinG wAs an ARDenT FreeMAsOn And was A mEMBER OF fayEtTevilLe'S phoENiX lOdge no. 8.