King was born in
Albany, Georgia, the youngest of seven sons of Margaret (née Slater) and
Clennon Washington King Sr., both of whom graduated from
Tuskegee Institute. Preston's elder brothers included
Chevene Bowers King,
Clennon Washington King Jr., and
Slater King. After attending local schools, King studied at the
London School of Economics in the late 1950s, and at the
University of Maryland in 1961. After his draft board learned that he was African American, it addressed him as "Preston" rather than using "Mr." He refused to respond. Accused of draft evasion, King went into exile in the United Kingdom to avoid imprisonment and because he thought the charges unjust. He taught alternately in England and Africa, at
Keele University, the
University of Ghana, the
University of Sheffield, the
University of East Africa, and the
University of Nairobi (where he was department chair). In 1976 King moved to the
University of New South Wales in Australia, becoming head of his school. In 1986 he returned to the UK, to
Lancaster University, where he again chaired his department. After much resistance in Georgia, he was pardoned by President
Bill Clinton in 2000. He had been unable to return to the US for the funeral of his father or of two brothers. Following his return to the United States from exile after his presidential pardon in 2000, King taught at
Emory University and
Morehouse College in Atlanta. He has also held numerous visiting positions.
Personal life King married British Jewish social justice activist Murreil Hazel Stern, sister of physician
Miriam Stoppard, in 1963. Their daughter
Oona King (born 1967) is a Labour Party politician and former Member of Parliament. She is now
Baroness King of Bow, a member of the
House of Lords. == Selected bibliography ==