 Educated at Hawkshead Grammar School, Joshua King went first to Trinity College, Cambridge in 1815 but moved to Queens' College in February 1816 as a sizar (i.e.a student receiving some financial assistance), and graduated Senior Wrangler in 1819.He was elected a Fellow of the Queens’ in 1820, and served as its President from 1832 to his death – the first person not in holy orders to be so elected.