CHARLES F. GUILLOU

Dr. Guillou began his career in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the U.S.S. "Peacock". While serving as Assistant Surgeon on the "Peacock", Dr. Guillou made his first trip to Hawaii in October, 1840. Later he served in the Mexican War and became Surgeon of the U.S.S. "Columbia", which was followed by duty on the U.S. frigate "Constitution". On a cruise in European waters the "Constitution" touched at Gaeta, Italy, where Dr. Guillou accompanied the American consul and his captain on a visit to King Ferdinand II and to Pope Pius IX. The following day His Majesty and the Pope visited the "Constitution" where the Pope was taken ill and attended by Dr. Guillou. In appreciation of his services, His Holiness sent for Dr. Guillou the next day and wished to confer an order on him which the doctor, being an American, could not accept. When Dr. Guillou returned to the United States, he was assigned to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. After 17 years in the Navy he resigned to come to Hawaii.

Arriving on the "Vaquero" December 1, 1854, his first business card appears in the February 17, 1855, edition of the "Polynesian" and offers medical advice in English, French, Spanish, and Italian. On the 24th of that month Dr. Guillou is listed as one of three physicians who will attend patients at the Honolulu Marine Hospital, which was organized by the American doctor, George A. Lathrop. Mrs. Guillou and daughter join the doctor arriving in May, 1855.

In October, 1857, the Honorable A. Pratt, U.S. Consul for Hawaii, appointed Dr. Guillou consular physician for the hospital in Honolulu. That this choice was not universally popular is reflected in a letter to the "Pacific Commercial Advertiser" which reads in part. "Dr. Guillou undoubtedly possesses great urbanity of manner and erudite conversational powers" but goes on to suggest that there are fellow citizens who could perform the duties as ably and as satisfactorily, and is signed Hail Columbia.

Three years later Commander W.E. Hunt, U.S.N. and James W. Borden, U.S. Commissioner, were appointed to investigate the affairs of the U.S. Consulate and the hospitals at Honolulu, Lahaina, and Hilo. In the process of this investigation and in the absence of Consul Pratt, Dr. Guillou became involved in a bitter quarrel with Mr. Borden, which was fought mainly through the pages of the newspapers. On one occasion Mr. Borden complained in a letter to the "Pacific Commercial Advertiser" that Dr. Guillou had threatened him with bodily harm. A letter from the doctor denied this but admits that while he has the highest regard for Borden's official position he has "not a particle of respect for him personally" and adds that if Mr. Borden were to come into the hospital without the permission of the Vice-Consul (Mr. Thomas Dougherty, in charge during Mr. Pratt's absence) he would turn him out. In May, 1861, Dr. S.P. Ford was appointed consular physician for the Honolulu hospital, and it appear that Dr. Guillou came out the loser in his contest with Mr. Borden.

In January, 1865, that doctor himself was elevated to consular level when he was appointed by Victor Emmanuel to represent the Kingdom of Italy.

Dr. and Mrs. Guillou were active in the social life of Honolulu and entertained frequently themselves. At a ball given in March, 1860, in honor of the officers of the U.S.S. "Powhatan" at their residence and described as a "brilliant and attractive" affair their Majesties were present as well as several members of the Japanese Embassy who witnessed for the first time foreign ladies and gentlemen dancing. The Guillous were members of the Musical Society.

Dr. Guillou was a charter member of the Hawaii Medical Society, organized in 1856, and served as its first Secretary. He was also a member of the Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society and was elected to the Executive Committee. He was also owner of the Gas Works, which he sold in 1860 for the sum of $2000. Lecturing before the members of the Honolulu Lyceum in 1858, he took the position that the only way of prolonging the existence of the Hawaiian race was to bring them adequate medical care and outlined a plan for a hospital very similar to that used in the formation of the Queens Hospital about a year later.

Dr. Guillou left the Islands with his wife and daughter on the "Smyrniote" for San Francisco November 2, 1866, after a residence of nearly 12 years.

Nothing further is known about the doctor until his obituary, a reprint of an article from the "New York Sun", which appeared in the "Advertiser" for January 25, 1899. From this source we learn that for several years after his retirement Dr. Guillou lived at Petersburg, Virginia. Here his second wife, a Miss Dinah Postlewaite of Natchez, died, but no date is given. The doctor's death occurred at his residence in New York on January 1, 1899, and the survivors listed are a daughter and an adopted daughter.

The "American Medical Journal" of January 14, 1899, gives his death as occurring on December 25, 1898, at his home in New York at the age of 85.

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