KING, THOMAS (1821-93) was born in London, educated at a commercial school, and entered the office of a member of the coal exchange. He had a good grip of business, and at the age of 18 was practically in charge of the office but, his health being delicate, he decided to emigrate to New Zealand. Having purchased two Taranaki sections, he sailed with his friend R. Chilman (whose sister Mary he married in 1846) in the William Bryan, arriving in Mar 1841.

King sold his goods to advantage, took employment at various trades, and in 1843 commenced an importing business. In company with Dorset he chartered the 12-ton schooner Carbon, which they operated in the coastal trade between Nelson, Wellington, New Plymouth and Manukau. After importing flour from Australia in 1844, King in the following year exported about 150 tons of Taranaki flour to various ports.

In 1848 he took up land at Mangorei, where in 1852 he was visited by Lord Robert Cecil (afterwards Lord Salisbury). He was elected M.H.R. for Grey and Bell (1853-55 and 1860), and he sat for some years in the Provincial Council (for New Plymouth in 1856; Grey and Bell 1857-61). He was also provincial treasurer. While in Parliament King exposed the plot to make peace with Waikato (1860). In the following year, the Bank of New Zealand having started business, he was appointed its first manager in New Plymouth, a position he held with conspicuous ability until 1876. Thereafter he again devoted much of his time to public affairs, being (for 10 years) chairman of the harbour board, and a director and sometime chairman of the New Plymouth Gas Co., the Taranaki Land, Building and Investment Co., the Sash and Door Co., the New Plymouth Savings Bank and the education reserves board. He died on 28 Apr 1893. Two of his sons were Newton King and Sir F. Truby King.

Wells; Taranaki Herald, 19 Jul 1854, 28 Apr 1893. Portrait: Taranaki Hist. Coll.

Reference: Volume 1, page 251

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