Discover the Unexpected: Top 6 Fun Facts About Rufus King You Never Knew!

1. Groovy High School Namesake

Before Rufus "The Diplomat" King dropped the mic as a Founding Father, he made constitutions rhyme and high schools shine: Rufus King High School is named after this groovy statesman who co-authored the United States Constitution and represented the stars and stripes as a delegate during the Constitutional Convention.
Source => cbs58.com

2. Royal Papa Bear

Some say the Kings were too busy playing thrones, but when it came to family, Rufus was truly a royal papa bear: Rufus King, statesman extraordinaire, was a loving husband to Mary Alsop and doting father to their seven children, though sadly, only five survived past their early years.
Source => blog.mcny.org

Did you know James Madison was a lightweight president with unconventional sleeping habits? Find out how this founding father stayed fit and rested in a unique way! 💤🇺🇸

=> Fun Facts about James-Madison

3. Macaroni of Founding Fathers

If Rufus King were a dish at a founding fathers potluck, he'd be the macaroni that mingled with all the right cheeses: Rufus King held prominent positions in the early American politics as a Federalist, working alongside the likes of Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, and John Jay, even garnering nominations for both Vice President and President during his accomplished career.
Source => history.com

4. Unlucky Presidential Runs

They say the third time's the charm, but poor Rufus King missed the memo and stopped at two: King tried his luck in two presidential elections, only to lose both times to James Monroe in 1816 and 1820, but still enjoyed a noteworthy political career, with roles as a Senator, Ambassador to Great Britain, and Minister to Russia under his belt.
Source => loc.gov

5. Walking Paradox

Who knew that Rufus King was a walking paradox? Some say his life played out like a comic opera, with twists and turns that left historians scratching their heads: Besides being a US Senator and 1816 Presidential candidate, King was known to have owned slaves, yet passionately advocated for the abolition of slavery, even participating in the Constitutional Convention. Talk about an unexpected plot twist!
Source => newyorkalmanack.com

6. The Last Founding Father Standing

If Rufus King had a superhero name, it might just be "The Last Founding Father Standing": He was the final one to leave this mortal coil and used his diplomatic and oratorical powers to champion nationalism, civil liberty, and even fought to grant rights to the enslaved population, famously speaking out against Missouri's admission as a slave state in 1820.
Source => history.army.mil