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A representative American writer on geology and allied topics; born at Newport, R. I., Jan. 6, 1842; died at Phoenix, Ariz., Dec. 24, 1901. In 1863 he joined the State geological survey of California, making the first detailed surveys of the Yosemite Valley. In 1867 he was in charge of the United States geological survey of the 40th Parallel, and for the next five years did valuable work from the California Sierras to Eastern Wyoming, the results of which were registered in two atlases and the seven quarto volumes entitled "Professional Papers of the Engineer Department of the United States Survey" (1870-78). The first volume was written entirely by Mr. King. When in 1879 the different geological surveys were united in one bureau of the Department of the Interior, Mr. King was made first director of the Survey, holding the position until 1881, when he resigned. He later carried on independent investigation, and contributed many important papers to scientific periodicals in this country and Europe. He was elected in 1876 a member of the National Academy of Science. His best-known book, "Mountaineering in the Sierras" (1871), is not merely a contribution to technical knowledge in this field, but a brilliant literary performance; being written in a graphic way, and narrating picturesque and thrilling incidents of Western wild life.