John Thompson Hoffman (1828-1888)

John Thompson Hoffman (1828-1888). Recorder and Mayor of New York City, Governor of New York State. John T. Hoffman was born in Sing Sing (Ossining), the only son of Jane Thompson Hoffman and Dr. Adrian K. Hoffman, a respected physician who served as village president five separate times. John was educated at the Mount Pleasant Military Academy and Union College, graduating at the young age of 18. Hoffman studied law with General Aaron Ward and Judge Albert Lockwood of Sing Sing, and was admitted to the bar on his 21st birthday. He relocated to New York City to practice law in 1850 and for the next 10 years built his reputation and popularity. The precocious Hoffman then set his sights on political office. , Hoffman joined the Tammany Society in 1859, a politically expedient alliance. In 1860 he was elected to the first of two terms as Recorder of the City of New York, the youngest man ever to hold the post. It was his carrying out of his duties as criminal judge of New York during the Civil War draft riots Cas Recorder) that brought him to prominence. He was elected twice as mayor of New York City (1865 and 1867). During his second mayoral term he was elected governor and resigned as mayor to move into the governor's mansion, again to serve two terms (1869-1872). , By all accounts, Hoffman was an upright man. His name was put forth as a possible presidential candidate in 1872, but Hoffman was unable to distance himself from the scandals of Tammany Hall under Boss Tweed, and his reputation did not survive the association. He resigned from public life at the close of his second gubernatorial term – he was only 44 years old. Hoffman died at the age of 60 while vacationing in Germany