William King, friend and champion of the slaves

the long version

William King was born November 11, 1812 in Newton Limavady, Londonderry, Ireland. His parents were William King and Elizabeth Torrance. He graduated from Glasgow University in 1833 and immigrated to the United States. The family settled in Providence, Ohio. In 1836 he went to Jackson, Louisiana where he became headmaster of Mathews Academy. He married Mary Phares in 1841. His wife died in 1845. In 1846 he went to Ontario to establish the Elgin Settlement for freed and escaped slaves. After the Civil War he helped many of the settlers resettle in the South or Africa. He died in 1895 in Chatham, Ontario.