Edward King (1815-1875)
Merchant in the China Trade & Landowner, of 35 King Street, Newport, Rhode Island
He was born in Newport and was educated at Brown University. He became a merchant in the China Trade (tea, silk and opium) and made a fortune as a partner in Russell & Co. In about 1840, from Canton he wrote to his family in Newport: "I am of the opinion that real estate in Newport will increase in value considerably in the course of a few years... Strangers will build cottages, and if factories succeed considerable addition to the population will take place. The government will no doubt in a few years have a navy yard there; perhaps not a large one at first but by degrees it will be extended...". On retiring aged just 29 in 1842 with what in today's terms would be a fortune of about $10-million, he duly invested in real estate in Newport and by 1860 he was the largest landowner in the town. In 1845, he commissioned Richard Upjohn to build his home (see images) overlooking the harbor that still stands at 35 King Street.
In 1849, at New York, he married Mary LeRoy, a granddaughter of both Herman LeRoy, President of the Bank of New York, and Col. Nicholas Fish, Adjutant-General of New York. Mary's first cousin, Stuyvesant Fish, was married to one of Gilded Age Newport's most famed society hostesses, Mamie Fish. They were the parents of seven children (listed).
In 1849, at New York, he married Mary LeRoy, a granddaughter of both Herman LeRoy, President of the Bank of New York, and Col. Nicholas Fish, Adjutant-General of New York. Mary's first cousin, Stuyvesant Fish, was married to one of Gilded Age Newport's most famed society hostesses, Mamie Fish. They were the parents of seven children (listed).
