Son of John King, he became an apprentice at the Royal Brass Foundry when his father and uncle were engaged in 1784. In 1805 he was appointed foreman, becoming Assistant Founder in 1813, his uncle Henry King having been promoted to Master Founder on John King's death. In 1818, on his uncle's retirement, he became Acting Founder, the post of Master Founder having been abolished. He retired in 1822.