Horatio Collins King

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Horatio Collins King (b. December 22, 1837 in Portland, ME; d. November 15, 1918 in Brooklyn, NY) was a lawyer, soldier, author, and editor who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for distinguished bravery during the Civil War. William and King consulted on both musical and legal matters, including in particular the sale of the Steinway and Hunters Point Railroad under foreclosure to William.

King was the son of Horatio King, Postmaster General for President Buchanan. He was raised in Washington, DC, graduated from Dickinson College in 1858, and studied law with E. M. Stanton (Secretary of War under President Lincoln). He moved to New York City in 1861 and was admitted to the bar. During the Civil War he served in the Army of the Potomac and the Army of the Shenandoah, first as a staff Quartermaster. He subsequently sought a more active role, however, was cited for conspicuous bravery at the battle of Five Forks, and achieved the rank of brevet colonel. He received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions at Dinwiddie Court House, VA.(5)(6)(10)

After the war, King practiced law until 1870 and returned to law in 1878. In 1883 he was appointed judge advocate-general in the New York National Guard by Governor Cleveland and was continued in that position under Governor Hill. Following this appointment, he was commonly addressed as "General."(4)(9)(10)

Early in 1888 William was the subject of "ferocious" attacks by the music journalist John. C. Freund, based on outcomes of previous piano competitions between Steinway & Sons and their major competitors.(2) King contacted William, apparently to patch up relations between the two men. William met with King but didn't record the result of their conversation.(Diary, 1888-03-03; 03-24; 03-29)

When the Steinway and Hunters Point Railroad was sold under foreclosure in 1892, King served as the attorney for the mortgage trustees. William worked with King to prepare for the sale and, as sole purchaser, obtained the railroad.(Diary, 1892-01-21; 01-30; 03-05) William also consulted King about a "ludicrous" complaint seeking an injunction against some recitals by Madame Emil Paurs.(Diary, 1895-02-06) Later in 1895 King, who was representing Antoinette Sterling, an American contralto, saw William on her behalf, but William made no notes to explain the issue.(Diary, 1895-11-17)

During the years 1870 to 1878 King was affiliated with the newspaper industry, acting as associate editor of the New York Star, as business manager of the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher's Christian Union or as publisher of the Christian at Work.(4)(5)(10)

In 1895 King was nominated for New York Secretary of State on the Democratic ticket, an event of which William took note.(Diary, 1895-09-26) Although he won in New York county by a plurality of 41,729 votes, the entire Republican slate won the statewide election.(4)(11)(13) In 1912 King was nominated by acclamation by the Progressive (Bull Moose) Party for State Controller.(14)

He was twice married. His first wife, Emma C. Stebbins,died, as did their only daughter in 1864. He moved to Brooklyn in 1865 after meeting Esther A. Howard, whom he married a year later. They had nine children, three of whom died in infancy. A prominent resident of Brooklyn, King was mentioned thousands of times in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. He belonged to Plymouth Congregational Church (led by Henry Ward Beecher), where he was elected church clerk, and held that position for nearly 19 years. A dedicated public servant, King was a member of the Brooklyn Board of Education for more than nine years.(6)(9)(12)

King was a trained musician and played the organ at his own Plymouth Church as well as at the First Presbyterian Church. He was one of the directors of the Brooklyn Philharmonic Society and author of a number of compositions, including "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" and "Hymn of Thanksgiving."(1)(8) William first mentioned King when he called on him to discuss the Liederkranz singing at the Brooklyn Philharmonic.(Diary, 1879-05-02)

King authored a history of Dickinson College in 1896 and from that year until his death he was a trustee of the college. He was an active member of many military organizations including the Society of the Army of the Potomac, for which he was secretary for 37 years. He also authored a number of military articles and other works and served as chairman of the Fredericksburg National Park Association. He held membership in the Lake Mohonk Arbitration Association and the Internal Law Association. He was a thirty-third degree Mason and a member of the Elks.(4)(5)(6)

Queried about his health on his 76th birthday, King commented that his "brain was as active as ever" but he had more sense than previously.(7) King suffered a paralytic stroke early in 1914 and then suffered from a heart attack in 1917. He died of heart failure at his home, 46 Willow St., in Brooklyn on November 15, 1918.(3)(5)(6)

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Sources:

1.  “Beecher’s Work in Popularizing Congregational Singing,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, October 5, 1913, p. 32.
2.  Freund, John C., “To William Steinway: A Second Open Letter,” The American Musician, March 3, 1888, vol. 8, No. 9, pp. 173, 175.
3.  “Gen. H. C. King Has Paralytic Stroke,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, March 2, 1914, p. 1.
4.  “Gen. Horatio C. King,” The New York Times, October 6, 1895, p. 21.
5.  “Gen. Horatio C. King dies in 81st Year,” The New York Times, November 16, 1918, p. 13.
6.  “Gen Horatio C. King dies in 81st Year,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, November 15, 1918, p. 18.
7.  ”Gen. Horatio C. King is 76,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, December 21, 1913, p. 10.
8.  “General King’s Career,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, September 7, 1912, p. 5.
9.   King, Horatio C., “Fifty Years in Brooklyn,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, June 18, 1916, p. 27.
10. “King, Horatio Collins,” The National Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: James T. White & Company, 1929, v. VI, pp. 156-57.
11. “Palmer!,” The New York Times, November 6, 1895, p. 1.
12. ”Plymouth’s Final OK for Dr. Hills,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, December 18, 1915, p. 5.
13. “Total Vote of New York State,” The New York Times, November 8, 1895, p. 5.
14. “Two Brooklyn Men Placed on Ticket,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, September 7, 1912, p. 5.