John King was born on February 7, 1862, in Ballinrobe, County Mayo, Ireland. Known for his strong will and fiery temperament, he fled Ireland after an incident involving the Royal Irish Constabulary and made his way to the United States, where he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1893.

King first served aboard the USS Massachusetts during the Spanish–American War and later on the USS Vicksburg during the Philippine–American War. On May 29, 1901, he earned his first Medal of Honor for heroic action during a boiler explosion aboard the Vicksburg, receiving the award that December. His courage was tested again while serving as a watertender on the USS Salem when another boiler explosion occurred on September 13, 1909. Despite being badly burned from the thighs down, King risked his life once more to save his shipmates. For this act of valor, he received his second Medal of Honor from President William H. Taft at the White House on October 19, 1909, becoming one of only nineteen men in U.S. history to receive the decoration twice. He was soon promoted to Chief Watertender.

King remained on active duty until 1916 and was later recalled to service during World War I, stationed in New York until his final discharge in 1919. After retiring, He returned to Ballinrobe for some years before living quietly in the United States, suffering lingering effects from his burns and injuries. He passed away on May 20, 1938, and was laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery, Hot Springs, Arkansas.

His legacy continues to be honored in both the United States and Ireland. In 1960, the USS John King (DDG-3) was launched in his name, and the following year a commemorative plaque was unveiled in Ballinrobe to recognize his achievements. When the ship later visited Ireland, its captain presented a portrait of King to a local museum; sadly, the painting was later destroyed in a fire, along with a display case containing his medals. Decades later, in 2010, a life-sized bronze statue of King was unveiled in Cornmarket, Ballinrobe, celebrating his heroism and enduring connection to his hometown, with local residents, family members, and U.S. Navy representatives in attendance.

Source of information: en.wikipedia.org, victoriacrossonline.co.uk/