KING, Dr William, a facetious English writer in the beginning of the 18th century, was allied to the noble families of Clarendon and Roebuck. He was elected a student of Christ church from Westminster school in 1681, aged 18. He afterward entered upon the study of law, and took the degree of doctor of civil law, soon acquired a considerable reputation as a civilian, and was in great practice. He attended the earl of Pembroke, lord lieutenant of Ireland, into that kingdom, where he was appointed judge advocate, sole commissioner of the prizes, keeper of the records, vicar general to the lord primate of Ireland; was countenanced by persons of the highest rank, and might have made a fortune. But so far was he from heaping up riches, that he returned to England with no other treasure than a few merry poems and humorous essays, and returned to his student's place at Christ church. He died on Christmas day in 1712, and was interred in the cloisters of Westminster abbey. His writings are pretty numerous. The principal are, 1. Animadversions on a pretended Account of Denmark, wrote by Mr Moleworth, afterwards Lord Moleworth. The writing of these procured Dr King the place of secretary to Princess Anne of Denmark. 2. Dialogues of the dead. 3. The art of love, in imitation of Ovid De arte amandi. 4. A volume of poems. 5. Useful transactions. 6. An historical account of the heathen gods and heroes. 7. Several translations.