 It was probably during this period that he met his future business partners Anthony Calvert (1735–1809) and William Camden when he was master on ships owned by them.He became close friends with Anthony Calvert and named one of his sons Anthony Calvert King.In 1771, while he was master of the "Surrey" (or "Surry"), owned by Anthony Calvert, he was involved in an incident that saw him charged with the murder of a sailor, John Warren, for which he stood trial at the Old Bailey in 1776.