APPOINTED TRUSTEE FOR CHATHAM COLLEGIATE INSTITUTEKing was always an advocate of education. He also was a pioneer in proving that children of different races were capable of learning in classrooms together, as Secretary of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society John Scoble noted:
King recognized the need for a 'high school' and was determined to have such an institution available for his scholars in Kent County. In March of 1851, King was appointed a Trustee by Lord Elgin. King prepared an application for a charter of a high school in Buxton, but upon learning that an application was also in process for Chatham City by Dr. Thomas Cross, the superintendent for Chatham schools, he deemed it wisest to work with Cross. King took the application petition to Lord Elgin himself. Upon approval, Chatham had the only college preparatory school west of Toronto. The first classes were held in old military barracks and a new building built in 1855. King wrote in his autobiography:
King remained on the Board of Trustees in Chatham for twenty-eight years.
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