EDWARD HOFFMANN

Edward Hoffmann (often spelled Hoffman) was born at Oldenburg, Germany, on October 21, 1813. Coming to the Islands as a physician on a German whaleship in 1847, Dr. Hoffmann decided to settle permanently in Honolulu and became associated with Dr. Robert Wood.

On November 1, 1849, Dr. Hoffmann married Miss Maria Louisa Morse of Machias, Maine, in a ceremony performed by the Rev. S. C. Damon at the home of Dr. Wood.

In 1850 Dr. Hoffmann went into a partnership with Dr. George Lathrop and opened the Honolulu Drug Store, but the partnership was dissolved within a few months. In January, 1851, Dr. Hoffmann and Dr. Benjamin F. Hardy became partners and also operated a drug store. This joint venture lasted until January, 1853, when it too was terminated. Dr. Hoffmann opened his own drug store located on the corner of Kaahumanu and Queen streets in July, 1854, which he continued to manage for a number of years.

Apart from his business affairs the doctor served in many capacities. He was appointed a member of the first Board of Health established on December 13, 1850, by King Kamehameha III. During the smallpox epidemic of 1853 he helped Dr. Thomas Rooke divide the city into three sections for the care of patients and took charge of one of the divisions. Dr. Hoffmann was one of the signers of the charter of incorporation of the Hawaiian Medical Society in 1856 and served as its first treasurer. Together with Dr. Robert McKibbin, Sr. and Dr. Seth P. Ford, Dr. Hoffmann was appointed by the Board of Health to form "a committee of examiners to prove the qualifications of applicants for physicians' licenses" in 1859---the forerunner of the Board of Medical Examiners. Serving as physician of the Lunatic Asylum from about 1867 to 1873, he was also physician for Oahu Prison for a time. In 1871 King Kamehameha IV appointed Dr. Hoffmann a trustee of the Queen's Hospital.

The doctor also found time to be active in many community projects. Always fond of young people, he took a deep interest in the Oahu Charity School, which was opened in 1833 primarily that children of foreign fathers and native mothers could receive an education in English rather than in Hawaiian. In 1870 Dr. Hoffmann became Austro-Hungarian consul for the Islands. The doctor was a fine musician, playing both the piano and the violin, and even, it was reported, gave piano lessons. For 25 years he was the undisputed head of social events in Honolulu, acting as Master of Ceremonies at His Majesty's Birthday Ball on February 9, 1860, and masterminding many similar affairs with verve and distinction.

In 1881 Dr. Hoffmann retired from active practice, and on March 25, 1888, he died in Honolulu at the age of 74.

He was a Knight Commander of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, a charter member of the Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society (serving on the board of managers in 1868), a surgeon of the Hawaiian Guard and of the Honolulu Rifles, a member of the German Benevolent Society (president in 1875), and a Mason.

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