Edward King (jurist)

Edward King (January 31, 1794 – May 8, 1873) was a prominent 19th century lawyer and jurist, perhaps best known today as having twice been unsuccessfully nominated to the United States Supreme Court.

King was born in Philadelphia and admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1816. Soon after, he entered politics, initially as a Federalist and later as a Democrat, eventually rising to leader of the Democratic party in Pennsylvania.

In 1825, King was named president judge of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. He was instrumental in establishing Pennsylvania's equity courts, thus drawing national attention to himself. President John Tyler nominated King to the Supreme Court on June 5, 1844. Because of political pressures between Tyler and Congress, the Senate voted to postpone consideration of the proposal. King withdrew his nomination, and Tyler reappointed King on December 4. In January 1845, the Senate tabled the nomination once more. Tyler then withdrew King's nomination on February 7.

King remained as president judge in the common-pleas court until retirement in 1852. Thereafter, he remained active in public and civic affairs. He died in Philadelphia in 1873.