Josiah Ogden Hoffman
Encyclopedia
Ogden Hoffman was an American lawyer and politician.
Hoffman was the son of New York State Attorney General
Josiah Ogden Hoffman and Mary (Colden) Hoffman. He pursued classical studies and graduated from Columbia College
in 1812. He served for three years in the Navy
and was warranted
a midshipman
in 1814.
He studied law, was admitted to the bar
in 1818 and commenced practice in Goshen, New York
. He was District Attorney of Orange County
from May 1823 to January 1826. Then he returned to New York City and became the law partner of Hugh Maxwell
, at the time D.A. of New York.
Hoffman was a member of the New York State Assembly
, from Orange County in 1826, and from New York County in 1828. He was D.A. of New York County
from 1829 to 1835. After the removal of the federal deposits from the Second Bank of the United States
in 1833, he abandoned Tammany Hall
and the Democratic Party, and joined the Whigs. In 1836, Hoffman defended Richard P. Robinson at his trial for the murder of Helen Jewett
, and got his client acquitted.
Hoffman was elected as a Whig
to the 25th
and 26th United States Congress
es, serving from March 4, 1837 to March 3, 1841. He was United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1841 to 1845; and was New York State Attorney General
from 1854 to 1855, elected on the Whig ticket in November 1853
.
He died at his residence, at Ninth Street in New York City
, of "congestion of the lungs", and was buried in the St. Mark's Church vault. His son, Ogden Hoffman, Jr.
, was also a lawyer, and became the first United States federal judge
in the newly admitted state of California
.
Hoffman was the son of New York State Attorney General
New York State Attorney General
The New York State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of New York. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of New York.The current Attorney General is Eric Schneiderman...
Josiah Ogden Hoffman and Mary (Colden) Hoffman. He pursued classical studies and graduated from Columbia College
Columbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
in 1812. He served for three years in the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and was warranted
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
in 1814.
He studied law, was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1818 and commenced practice in Goshen, New York
Goshen (village), New York
Goshen is a village in and the county seat of Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 5,676 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport,...
. He was District Attorney of Orange County
Orange County, New York
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
from May 1823 to January 1826. Then he returned to New York City and became the law partner of Hugh Maxwell
Hugh Maxwell
Hugh Maxwell was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He graduated from Columbia College in 1808. Then he studied law and was admitted to the bar....
, at the time D.A. of New York.
Hoffman was a member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
, from Orange County in 1826, and from New York County in 1828. He was D.A. of New York County
New York County District Attorney
The New York County District Attorney is the elected district attorney for New York County , New York. The office is responsible for the prosecution of violations of New York state laws....
from 1829 to 1835. After the removal of the federal deposits from the Second Bank of the United States
Second Bank of the United States
The Second Bank of the United States was chartered in 1816, five years after the First Bank of the United States lost its own charter. The Second Bank of the United States was initially headquartered in Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia, the same as the First Bank, and had branches throughout the...
in 1833, he abandoned Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall
Tammany Hall, also known as the Society of St. Tammany, the Sons of St. Tammany, or the Columbian Order, was a New York political organization founded in 1786 and incorporated on May 12, 1789 as the Tammany Society...
and the Democratic Party, and joined the Whigs. In 1836, Hoffman defended Richard P. Robinson at his trial for the murder of Helen Jewett
Helen Jewett
Helen Jewett was an upscale New York City prostitute whose murder, along with the subsequent trial and acquittal of her alleged killer, Richard P. Robinson, generated an unprecedented amount of media coverage....
, and got his client acquitted.
Hoffman was elected as a Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
to the 25th
25th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President: Richard Mentor Johnson * President pro tempore: William R. King - House of Representatives :* Speaker: James K. Polk -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
and 26th United States Congress
26th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Leadership :- Senate :*President: Richard M. Johnson *President pro tempore: William R. King - House of Representatives :*Speaker: Robert M.T. Hunter -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
es, serving from March 4, 1837 to March 3, 1841. He was United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1841 to 1845; and was New York State Attorney General
New York State Attorney General
The New York State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of New York. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of New York.The current Attorney General is Eric Schneiderman...
from 1854 to 1855, elected on the Whig ticket in November 1853
New York state election, 1853
The 1853 New York state election was held on November 8, 1853, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, the State Engineer, two Judges of the New York Court of Appeals, a Canal Commissioner, an Inspector of State Prisons and the Clerk of the...
.
He died at his residence, at Ninth Street in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, of "congestion of the lungs", and was buried in the St. Mark's Church vault. His son, Ogden Hoffman, Jr.
Ogden Hoffman, Jr.
Ogden Hoffman, Jr. was a United States federal judge.He was born in New York City, son of Ogden Hoffman. He received an A.B. from Columbia University in 1840 and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School in 1842...
, was also a lawyer, and became the first United States federal judge
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
in the newly admitted state of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.