1821 - 1857

— Actor - Comedian - Entrepreneur —

A native of Jamaica Plains, near Boston, Charley King came to Sacramento in the early 1850's. He was a member of the theatrical company that opened the American Theater on the evening of September 9, 1851, it's owner-proprietor was Dr. Volney Spaulding. The theater and its performing company continued to prosper until November 2, 1852, when Sacramento's worst conflagration leveled the city and theater.

In 1853, Charley King formed a partnership with Messrs. Proctor, Venna and Mrs. Woodward and opened The Sacramento Theater in March. The house, not booked steadily and not a paying investment, survived only until August 5, 1854, when the final performance of "Mothers Trust" (California in 1849) was presented by a cast that included Charley King.

Charley King died in Sonora, California, on February 5, 1857, at the young age of 36 years. His remains were brought back to Sacramento for final internment here in the City Cemetery. A handsome marble headstone, long since disappeared, was placed at the burial site. Set in marble was said to have been a very correct likeness of King. The inscription on the stone read:His Life was Gentle, and the ElementsSo Mixed in Him that Nature MightStand Upand Say to all the WorldThis is a Man

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