62 ROYAL ROCK BEAGLE HUXT. 



Vincent Ashfield King was bovn at Everton, 26th January, 18 to. He 

 was tlie son of Mr. George King, a Liverpool merchant, who possessed 

 a considerable property at Higher Bebington, where he afterwards resided, 

 and wliere V. A. King was first initiated in the mysteries of s[)ort. His 

 boyhood and school days were si)ent in Liverpool, but he became associated 

 with the Hundred of W'irral at an early age, his father possessing a cottage 

 at Oxton, to wliich the family removed during the summer months. There 

 was no steam ferry to Liveri)Ool in those days, and King used often to relate 

 how he remem'oered going over to scliool at Liverpool in a sailing boat ; 

 also liow his father used to ride on horseback to church on Sundays from 

 Oxton, over the Fender to A\'oDdchurch, wiih V. A, King in front and his 

 mother behind, on •' pillion." 



At tlie age of eighteen King went out to Bombay, to join his brother's 

 firm (G. S. King and Co.), remaining there for some years. Somewhere 

 about the year 183S he returned to Liverpool, engaging in business in 

 connection with the same firm, and making periodical visits to Bombay. 

 During this period he resided with his father, at the Hall, Higher Bebington, 

 and here we find him when he joined the Royal Rock Beagles, in 1845, '^ 

 strong, hardy, active man of thirty-five, and a good runner with the beagles, 

 as ids contemporaries relate. Up to this time King had taken no active 

 part in political or public life, but wa:- quietly making his fortune, and 

 qualifying himself for the brilliant and useful position he occupied during 

 the later half of his life. Li 1S34 he had been enrolled a free burgess of 

 Liverjiool, and this is the only incident of a pui)lic character which has been 

 recorded of his early life. Wiien he entered public life, he formed the habit 

 of cutting out and placing in his scrap-book all newspaper references to 

 himself, whether favourable or otherwise. 



In 1S51 V. A. King married the daugluer of the Rev. E. T. Tanqueray, 

 Rector ofTingrith, Bedfordshire, _the bride being also a niece of the Rev, 

 Joshua King, Rector of Woodchurch. At the close of that year they went out 

 to Bombay, and from the annals of the Beagle Hunt it may be gathered that 

 they returned to England some time in 1S53, as King was made .Master of 

 the Hunt in that year, and took the chair at the general meeting, August 

 i8lh, 1853. On their return from Bombay, Mi', and Mrs. King took up their 

 residence at Oxion, at the well-known Point of Ayi-, where they spent the 

 remainder of their happy married life, cheered by the love and companion- 

 ship of their only child, ^Lss Catherine King. 'J'hese three' were almost 

 inseparable, wife and daughter always accom[)anying \'. A. King wiierever he 

 journeyed, entering thoroughly and ivn amore into all his pursuits and 

 pasiimes, and helping and encouraging him in his public work. 



The first time on which King was, so to speak, pulled out of his shell, 

 and induced to take part in i)ublic affairs, was connected with the volunteer 



