Michael Hoffman (congressman)
Encyclopedia
Michael Hoffman was an American lawyer and politician. He was U.S. Representative from New York
from 1825 to 1833
which was separated in 1828 to form the Town of Clifton Park
. At the time of his birth, the place was in Albany County, New York
, but became part of Saratoga County, New York
when this was established in 1791. His father was a German immigrant.
He studied medicine
and law
. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Herkimer, New York.
He was District Attorney of Herkimer County, New York
from 1823 to 1825.
Hoffman was elected as a Jacksonian
to the 19th
, 20th
, 21st
and 22nd United States Congress
es, holding office from March 4, 1825 to March 3, 1833. He was Chairman of the House Committee on Naval Affairs (21st and 22nd Congress). He was First Judge of the Herkimer County Court from 1830 to 1833.
On April 4, 1833, Hoffman was chosen when the State Legislature decided to increase the number of Canal Commissioners
from four to five. He resigned on May 6, 1835.
He was Register of the Land Office at Saginaw, Michigan
, in 1836. Afterwards he returned to Herkimer, NY, and was a member of the New York State Assembly
in 1841, 1842 and 1844. On April 17, 1841, Hoffman urged the Committee of the Judiciary to pass a bill granting Alexander McLeod
safe conduct out of the state and the abandonment of criminal charges against him, stating that "if it be true that the local authorities of Canada under the belief that they were imminently endangered by the hostile gathering on Navy Island
, did order this expedition
", then McLeod did not bear the blame for the death of any killed as a result.
He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1846.
He was Naval Officer of the Port of New York from May 3, 1845, until his death in office.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
from 1825 to 1833
Personal life
Hoffman was born in that part of the Town of HalfmoonHalfmoon, New York
Halfmoon is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 18,474 at the 2000 census. The town is named for the crescent shape of the land between the Hudson River and Mohawk River....
which was separated in 1828 to form the Town of Clifton Park
Clifton Park, New York
Clifton Park is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, the 2009 population estimate for Clifton Park was 36,469. The name is derived from an early land patent...
. At the time of his birth, the place was in Albany County, New York
Albany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
, but became part of Saratoga County, New York
Saratoga County, New York
Saratoga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 219,607. It is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Ballston Spa...
when this was established in 1791. His father was a German immigrant.
He studied medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
and law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Herkimer, New York.
He was District Attorney of Herkimer County, New York
Herkimer County, New York
Herkimer County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was created in 1791 north of the Mohawk River out of part of Montgomery County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 64,519. It is named after General Nicholas Herkimer, who died from battle wounds in 1777 after taking part...
from 1823 to 1825.
Hoffman was elected as a Jacksonian
Jacksonian democracy
Jacksonian democracy is the political movement toward greater democracy for the common man typified by American politician Andrew Jackson and his supporters. Jackson's policies followed the era of Jeffersonian democracy which dominated the previous political era. The Democratic-Republican Party of...
to the 19th
19th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President: John C. Calhoun * President pro tempore: John Gaillard , until December 4, 1825** Nathaniel Macon , from May 20, 1826- House of Representatives :* Speaker: John W. Taylor -Members:...
, 20th
20th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President: John C. Calhoun * President pro tempore: Samuel Smith - House of Representatives :* Speaker: Andrew Stevenson -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
, 21st
21st United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President: John C. Calhoun * President pro tempore: Samuel Smith - House of Representatives :* Speaker: Andrew Stevenson -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
and 22nd United States Congress
22nd United States Congress
-House of Representatives:-Leadership:- Senate :* President:** John C. Calhoun , resigned December 28, 1832, thereafter vacant.* President pro tempore:** Samuel Smith , first elected December 5, 1831** Littleton W...
es, holding office from March 4, 1825 to March 3, 1833. He was Chairman of the House Committee on Naval Affairs (21st and 22nd Congress). He was First Judge of the Herkimer County Court from 1830 to 1833.
On April 4, 1833, Hoffman was chosen when the State Legislature decided to increase the number of Canal Commissioners
Erie Canal Commission
The New York State Legislature appointed in 1810 a Commission to Explore a Route for a Canal to Lake Erie, and Report which became known as the Erie Canal Commission...
from four to five. He resigned on May 6, 1835.
He was Register of the Land Office at Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
, in 1836. Afterwards he returned to Herkimer, NY, and 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...
in 1841, 1842 and 1844. On April 17, 1841, Hoffman urged the Committee of the Judiciary to pass a bill granting Alexander McLeod
Alexander McLeod
Alexander McLeod was a Scottish-Canadian who served as sheriff in Niagara, Ontario. After the Upper Canada Rebellion, he boasted that he had partaken in the 1837 Caroline Affair, the sinking of an American steamboat that had been supplying William Lyon Mackenzie's rebels with arms...
safe conduct out of the state and the abandonment of criminal charges against him, stating that "if it be true that the local authorities of Canada under the belief that they were imminently endangered by the hostile gathering on Navy Island
Navy Island
Navy Island is a small island in the Niagara River in the province of Ontario, managed by Parks Canada as a National Historic Site of Canada. It is located about upstream from Horseshoe Falls, and has an area of roughly...
, did order this expedition
Caroline affair
The Caroline affair was a series of events beginning in 1837 that strained relations between the United States and Britain....
", then McLeod did not bear the blame for the death of any killed as a result.
He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1846.
He was Naval Officer of the Port of New York from May 3, 1845, until his death in office.
Sources
- The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 42, 281, 361 and 375; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)