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William
Rufus De Vane King - 13th Vice President
Party: Democrat
Term: March 4, 1853 - April 18, 1853
Age at Inauguration: 66
Life Span: April 7, 1786 - April 18, 1853 [67]
President:Franklin Pierce |
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- William King was the only bachelor
to serve as vice president
- He was in Cuba recovering from tuberculosis
when he was told he and Franklin Pierce had been elected
- He was administered the Oath of Office
in Cuba and returned to the Unites States to assume his new duties
but died before taking office
- Before his bout with tuberculosis
he served in the House and Senate, and as a senator lived for
a time with James Buchanan, fifteenth president
- Many rumors persisted regarding King's
sexual behavior, mostly due to his wearing of silk scarves, jewelry
and powdered wigs
- Other rumors contended he has liaisons
with male slaves on his plantation, King's Bend
- Andrew Jackson referred to him as
Miss Nancy
- No proof exists that he nor Buchanan
were homosexual
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