Death of a Vice President

William Rufus DeVane King came to Alabama during the period of westward expansion in 1818. He purchased land on the Alabama River between was is now Selma and Cahaba. Though he was a Unionist, he grew his wealth with the establishment of his large cotton plantation based on slave labor called "Chestnut Hill". His family and relatives forming the largest slaveholding family in the state with upwards of over 500 slaves. 

He was the first and only Alabamian elected to the Vice Presidency. He suffered from Tuberculosis. After having been elected as Vice President and failing to take the oath of office before he traveled to Cuba where he hoped his health would be restored, it was reported that he took an oath of office while in Cuba. He died shortly there after in April of 1853.

At the end of March 1853, Mr. McCullough from Perry County, Alabama visited with him and reported back.