Obituaries Australia

Charles King, 1855

State Library of New South Wales, MIN 175

The funeral of the late Mr Charles Macarthur King, a gentleman that had been for a great number of years prominently identified with the public life of this state, took place on Saturday at St Mary's. Mr Macarthur King held many positions of trust, but perhaps the most important of all was his office as Resident Magistrate at Norfolk Island, where his talents as an administrator were most usefully employed. There was a peculiar fitness in Mr Macarthur King being appointed Chief Magistrate of Norfolk Island. In 1788 his grandfather, Lieutenant (afterwards Admiral) Philip King, was commissioned by Captain Phillip who was in command of H.M.S. Sirius, to settle Norfolk Island. The Hon P. G. King, M.L.C. of Double Bay, is a brother of the deceased gentleman, who left five sons, one of whom (Mr Philip Parker King) is manager of the National Bank at Fremantle, Western Australia. Mr. Macarthur King was born at Greenwich, England, in 1824, and came to Sydney when two years old. After occupying himself with pastoral pursuits for some years he was interested in a whaling venture, but after a couple of years in this latter enterprise he accepted a position in the public service of this State and, with one or two short periods during which he again engaged himself in pastoral matters, he remained in that service, occupying the position of police magistrate at Bourke and elsewhere. The deceased gentleman was appointed Resident Magistrate of Norfolk Island in 1889 and retained the position until early this year. A few days ago he had one leg amputated.

The funeral, as already stated, took place at St Mary's, the service being conducted by the vicar, the Rev Mr Harris, assisted by the Rev F. Elder. Messrs Beecroft and Garner acted as bearers. Wreaths were sent by Mrs Brothers and Mrs Nobbs, Lieutenant Goldfinch and family, Mr J. K. Lethbridge King and family, Mr G. B. G. King and family, Mr. J. K. Lethbridge, Mr F. L. King (Ashfield), Mrs A. King and family (Madford, Victoria), and the residents of Tregear. Although the funeral was of a semi-private character, the deceased gentleman was held in such general esteem that a large number of persons attended.