HENRY CHARLES SLOGGETT

Henry Charles Sloggett was a member of a very old Cornish family dating back to 1227 when the family name was Tresloggett, which was shortened to Sloggett in the 16th century. A number of his ancestors distinguished themselves serving with the Army and Navy. Dr. Sloggett received his medical education in Edinburgh and was a licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons and of the Royal College of Physicians.

The doctor was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and first came to the Islands in the '70s on the British ship, "Challenger", on a scientific voyage. The British government later awarded him a bronze medal commemorating the voyage.

On July 18, 1896, Dr. and Mrs. Sloggett and daughter, Myra, arrived in Honolulu aboard the "Miowera". Prior to coming to the Islands, he had been in practice in the state of Washington, specializing in diseases of the eye, ear, nose, and throat. By August he had opened an office on Beretania Street where he carried on his specialty practice, and in September he was made a visiting physician at the Queen's Hospital. In June, 1899, an Eye and Ear Infirmary had been established to provide treatment for indigents, and Dr. Sloggett and Dr. George P. Andrews, serving without pay, provided the professional services. Appointed by Governor Sanford B. Dole to the Board of Health in May, 1901, he was elected president of the Board on the resignation of Dr. Charles Cooper in July. While Dr. Sloggett headed the Board there was a reoccurrence of bubonic plague, but this was successfully handled without any general quarantine of business and commerce, although more cases were recorded than in the epidemic of 1899-1900 when the port was under strict embargo.

The doctor was married to Annie (Ellery) Sloggett and was the father of a daughter, Myra (Mrs. John F. Humburg), and of a son, Henry Digby. Mrs. Sloggett died on May 29, 1900.

After resigning from the Board of Health in January, 1903, Dr. Sloggett sailed for Shanghai in March to become Medical Director and Manager of the Oriental Life Insurance Company, which was organized and financed by J.P. McCoy and a number of Chinese in Honolulu. While in Shanghai, Dr. Sloggett applied for the position of Superintendent of the Honolulu Insane Asylum. Out of three applicants Dr. Sloggett was the unanimous choice of the Board of Health, and he returned in December, 1903, to assume his new duties. He held this position until his death. During his tenure the grounds were remodeled and new buildings were erected.

Dr. Sloggett died in Honolulu on March 24, 1905.

In 1900 he and Dr. Calvin E. Camp organized the Honolulu Microscopic Society and Dr. Sloggett served as the first president. He was also a member of the Medical Association of Hawaii (president in 1903), of the Kilohana Art League and of Pacific Lodge No. 822, A.F. and A.M.

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