President of Columbia College from 1849 to 1864.

He was the second child of of Rufus King, Signer of the United States Constitution, and Mary (Alsop) King.

He was born in New York City, New York, and married Eliza Gracie (September 6, 1789-1825) on March 12, 1810. She was daughter of shipping magnate Archibald Gracie. They had eight children together.

After she died in 1825 he married Henrietta Liston Low on October 20, 1826. They had six children together.

Charles died September 27, 1867 in Frascati, Italy.

Charles and Eliza's children:
1 – Eliza Grace King (December 18, 1810-August 7, 1883). Married Reverend Charles Henry Halsey. They had five children.

2 – Esther Rogers King (July 26, 1812-May 15, 1898). Married Civil War Confederate Brigadier General James Green Martin. No children

3 – Rufus King (January 26, 1814-october 13, 1876) Civil War Union Brigadier General.

4 – William Gracie King (October 4, 1816-1882). Married Adeline Taylor McKee. They had three children.

5 – Charles King Jr. (October 6, 1817-). Supposed to have been lost at sea.

6 – Alice Consett King (April 16, 1819-May 27, 1861). Married Reverend Andrew Bell Paterson. They had four children.

7 – Archibald Gracie King (February 20, 1821-August 1, 1823). Died in childhood.

8 – Emily Sophia King (January 12, 1823-April 4, 1853). Married Stephen Van Rensselaer Paterson. No children.

Charles and Henrietta's children:
9 – Anne Johnstone King (August 9, 1827-October 4, 1891)

10 – Cornelius Low King (April 5, 1829-April 21, 1893). Brevet Colonel, US Army. 1st Married Julia Lawrence, they had two children. 2nd Married Janet de Kay, they had three children.

11 – Henrietta Low King (January 17, 1833 - )

12 – Gertrude Wallace King (September 24, 1836-). Married Eugene Schuyler. No children

13 – Mary Alsop King (April 28, 1839-1894). Author of two well known books. Married William Henry Waddington. One child.

14 – Augustus Fleming King (July 26, 1841-August 11, 1862). Died during the Civil War.