Hoffman Park

Hoffman Dr. bet. 58 Ave. and Woodhaven Blvd.

Queens

This text is part of Parks’ Historical Signs Project and can be found posted within the park.

This park honors John Thompson Hoffman (1828-1888), a career politician who served as both Mayor of New York City (1866-68) and Governor of New York State (1869-73).

Born January 10, 1828, in Sing Sing, New York (later called Ossining), Hoffman attended Union College, and graduated in 1846. Returning to Sing Sing to study law, he was admitted to the New York State Bar in January 1849 and entered into a law practice with Samuel Woodruff and Judge William M. Leonard. A member of the Young Men’s Tammany Hall General Committee, Hoffman was a candidate for the position of United States District Attorney during President James Buchanan’s (1791-1868) administration. Buchanan decided, however, that Hoffman was too young and far too inexperienced.