A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hoffmeister, Charles John
HOFFMEISTER. (Lieutenant, 1841. f-p., 18; h-p., 2.)
Charles John Hoffmeister was born 31 March, 1813, at Portsmouth.
This officer entered the Navy, 7 Nov. 1827, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Victory 104, Capt. Hon. Geo. Elliot, bearing the flag at Portsmouth of Hon. Sir Robt. Stopford. In Feb. 1828 he became Midshipman of the Revenge 78, Capt. Norborne Thompson, on the Mediterranean station, where, until the close of 1833, he continued to serve, In the Actaeon 26, Capt. Hon. Fred. Wm. Grey. He then joined the Belvidera 42, Capt. Chas. Borough Strong, fitting for the West Indies; on which station he removed, in Nov. 1834, a few months after he had passed his examination, to a Mateship in the Fly 18, Capt. Peter M‘Quhae. Joining, next, in Nov. 1835, the Quail cutter, Lieut.-Commander Philip Bisson, he was Senior Mate of that vessel in April, 1836, when she was dismasted 50 leagues S.W. of Ushant, lost 17 of her men, and was reduced to so pitiable a condition, that nine days of the greatest privation and suffering elapsed before the surviving crew were enabled to get her into Jersey. Being appointed, soon after the catastrophe, to the Pembroke 74, Capt. Sir Thos. Fellowes, Mr. Hoffmeistfer served off Lisbon until Aug. 1837, when his health obliged him to invalid. While next borne on the books, from Oct. 1837 until June, 1839, of the Melville 74, bearing the flag of Hon. Geo. Elliot at the Cape of Good Hope, we find him lent in succession to various small vessels for service on the coast of Africa. During the 11 months immediately antecedent to his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant, which took place 23 Nov. 1841, Mr. Hoffmeister presents himself to our notice as employed, on the Home and Mediterranean stations, in the Impregnable 104, Capt. Thos. Forrest. He was then appointed to the Belleisle troop-ship, Capt. John Kingcome, and ordered to China, where he arrived in time to witness the storming of Chin-Kiang-Foo, and to participate in the different operations on the Yang-tse-Kiang, terminating with the pacification of Nanking. He returned to England, an invalid, in Oct. 1842; and, on 5 June, 1843, was appointed to the Excellent gunnery-ship at Portsmouth, Capt. Sir Thos. Hastings, with whom he served for a period of 19 months. He has been employed, since 13 Nov. 1844, latterly as First-Lieutenant, in the Amazon 19, Capt. Jas. John Stopford, part of the force stationed in the Mediterranean. Agents – Messrs. Stilwell.