Phillip Parker KING was born on 13 December 1791 on Norfolk Island. In 1796 he was sent to England to be educated. In 1807 KING entered the Royal Navy and became a commissioned officer in 1814.
It was Matthew FLINDERS who interested KING in surveying and introduced him the Hydrographer to the Admiralty, Captain HURD. KING was trained by HURD in this field.
1817 saw KING being detailed to ‘explore, with as little delay as possible that part of the coast of New Holland not surveyed or examined by the late Captain FLINDERS.’ KING undertook this duty on the cutter, Mermaid.
He made four surveying journeys of the Australian coast between December 1817 and April 1822, the first three on the Mermaid and the final on the HMS Bathurst.
In 1856 KING was in poor health and had been for some time. On the evening of 26 February he dined aboard the HMS Juno as a guest of Captain FREMANTLE. Afterwards he walked home and collapsed at the gate to his house. KING did not recover and died aged 64.
The King River was named after KING by Dr Thomas Braidwood WILSON while exploring the area in 1829 as KING had examined the lower reaches of the watercourse during hydrographic surveys in 1818. It was in fact John Septimus ROE (Master Mate on board the Mermaid at the time) who located the entrance to the river.