[1] King was born in Mount Coote, Limerick, Ireland, son of John Wingfield King and his wife Alicia, née Coote.

[2] King was Secretary for Public Works and Mines in the Macalister Ministry from November 1874 to May 1876.

Two months later he was chosen Speaker of the Assembly, and occupied the chair of the House till July 1883.

He was an unsuccessful candidate for Maryborough at the 1888 colonial election.

[3] King died in South Brisbane, Queensland, on 5 February 1910 and buried in Toowong Cemetery.