King was born in Leigh-on-Sea to a family of Anglican priests.
Among his other clerical relatives was his great-uncle, Edward King, who was Bishop of Lincoln from 1885 to 1910 and was famously prosecuted for ritualistic practices.
[2] Later, he was a right-handed batsman and leg-break bowler who played for Essex.
[3] King moved to South Africa in his early fifties, and umpired 29 first-class cricket matches in total, mostly in the Currie Cup during the 1960s and 1970s.
He moved back to England late in his life, after umpiring his final game at the age of 70, and died at Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, the day after his 83rd birthday.