Beginning in 1943, he was an official in the British Council, serving in Europe, Persia, and Pakistan.
In 1966, after his first wife died, King married his second cousin, Patricia, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He produced works on sixteenth and seventeenth century literature and English as a foreign language.
During his academic tenure in Utah, King contributed articles to BYU Studies and Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, as well as magazines published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
From 1986 to 1988 King served as president of the London England Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.