Rufus King (January 26, 1814 – October 13, 1876) was an American newspaper editor, public servant, diplomat, and soldier.

He was later U.S. minister (ambassador) to the Papal States from 1864 to 1867 and was instrumental in the capture of accused Lincoln assassination plotter John Surratt.

In 1839, King was appointed Adjutant General of New York by Governor William H. Seward, a political ally of Weed, and held this post until 1843.

Horse Artillery Brigade and was awarded the Medal of Honor; his other son, Charles King became a brigadier general of volunteers during the Spanish–American War and a writer of Western novels.

King helped organize what came to be known as the famous Iron Brigade, the Second, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Wisconsin, and Nineteenth Indiana volunteers, which he commanded briefly.

Suffering from epileptic seizures, King spent the battle in an ambulance wagon and turned over command of the division to Brig.

Hatch then led King's division at Second Bull Run and during the Maryland Campaign until being wounded at South Mountain.

In the SCP Foundation universe, the "Ouroboros" series of articles depicts King as O5-6, the oldest of the O5 council and founder of the first Mobile Task Force.