The 25-Day Vice-President: Alabama's Rufus de Vane King

"The 25-Day Vice-President: Alabama's William Rufus de Vane King" documents the life and times of an often overlooked 19th Century statesman. Born to wealth and privilege in North Carolina, King grew up to become an attorney and was elected by Tarheel voters to serve in the State Legislator and U.S. Congress.

In 1819, after serving in Europe as Legation Secretary for the American Foreign Minister to the Two Sicilies and Russia, King migrated to the Alabama Territory. He quickly became a prom...