Our Namesake

Rufus King was a journalist and public servant with a zeal for improving public education. He is arguably one of the City of Milwaukee's most important figures in history.

Rufus King was born in 1814 in New York City. His grandfather, also named Rufus King, had been born in 1755 in Scarboro, Maine (then part of Massachusetts) and started his law practice in 1780 before embarking on a political career. From 1783 to 1785, he was a member of the Massachesetts legislature as well as a Massachusetts representative to the Continentinal Congress from 1784 to 1786. King gained a reputation as a great speaker and a strong opponent of slavery, instrumental in keeping the Northwest Territory -- which includes present-day Wisconsin -- free from slavery. In 1787, he became one of the youngest members at the Constitutional Convention, and in 1788, he moved to New York State and was named one of that state's first senators. From 1796 to 1803, he served as Minister to Great Britain. In 1804 and 1808, the Federalists nominated him for Vice President. His platform consisted of being pro-British, anti-War of 1812, and deeply anti-slavery. He wanted to eliminate slavery through compensated emancipation. He even denounced the Missouri Compromise because it extended slavery. In 1827, at the age of 72, the elder Rufus King died leaving his 13 year-old grandson. At the time of the death of the elder Rufus King, our Rufus King was attending Columbia College in New York City, where his father, Charles, was president.

The younger Rufus King then went on to the Army Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1833. In 1836, he resigned from the Army Corps of Engineers to enter the field of newspaper publishing. By 1845, he had moved to the Wisconsin Territory and settled in Milwaukee to become the editor and, for a time, part owner of The Milwaukee Sentinel and Gazette. He then followed his family's tradition and became involved in politics. He was a member of the 1848 Wisconsin Constitutional Convention which brought Wisconsin into the Union. This younger Rufus King was a great supporter of public education and became the firsr superintendent of Milwaukee's public schools as well as a regent of the University of Wisconsin in Madison. While in these positions, he was appointed by President Lincoln as Minister to the Papal States in 1861.

When the Civil War broke out, he took a leave of absence and enlisted in the Union Army. He wa appointed a Brigadier General and was given authorization to raise a Wisconsin Regiment. He succeeded in organizing the beginning of what came to be known as the famous Iron Brigade. He and the Iron Brigade participated in the Second Battle of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, and Gainesville. Due to ill health, King resigned in 1863, and resumed his position as Minister to the Papal States.

It is from our namesake that we derive our team mascot and nickname, the Generals.