The acquisition of 13 acres of land from Queen Kalama in 1853 allowed William Hillebrand to cultivate a diverse array of exotic and native trees, laying the groundwork for what eventually became a prominent public garden. A physician by trade, he balanced a medical career in the Kingdom of Prussia and Hawaii with extensive botanical exploration.
Medical Career and Hawaiian Tenure
Born in Nieheim, Prussia, on November 13, 1821, Hillebrand completed his medical training in Heidelberg and Berlin. After practicing in Paderborn, he sought a milder climate to alleviate respiratory issues, moving through Australia and the Philippines before settling in Hawaii on December 22, 1850. He joined a practice alongside Dr. Wesley Newcomb and married Anna Post in 1852. During his two decades in the islands, he helped establish the organization now known as the Hawaii Medical Association and served as the physician for the royal family of King Kamehameha IV. Between 1860 and 1871, he acted as the primary physician at The Queen's Hospital.
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In 1865, Hillebrand joined the King’s Privy Council, the Board of Health, and the Bureau of Immigration. The Hawaiian government tasked him with an expedition to Asia and the East Indies during that same year. His objectives included identifying potential labor sources for sugarcane plantations, investigating treatments for leprosy, and gathering botanical and animal specimens for the islands. He later formalized his findings on leprosy in an 1883 publication.
Botanical Contributions
Beyond his clinical work, Hillebrand achieved recognition for his research on flora. His posthumous 1888 publication, Flora of the Hawaiian Islands, remains a primary reference for the region’s phanerogams and vascular cryptogams. His collected specimens are housed in international institutions, including the Natural History Museum of the United Kingdom and the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh. The genus Hillebrandia and numerous other species are named in his honor.
Final Years
Hillebrand returned to Germany in 1871, though he maintained connections to Hawaii, including coordinating the arrival of Portuguese plantation workers in 1877. In 1880, he sold his property to Captain Thomas Foster and his wife, Mary. Hillebrand died on July 13, 1886, in Heidelberg, leaving behind a legacy that includes his son, the chemist William Francis Hillebrand.
Fast facts
- Born: 13 November 1821, Nieheim, Prussia
- Died: 13 July 1886, Heidelberg
- Citizenship: Kingdom of Prussia
- Arrival in Hawaii: 22 December 1850
- Spouse: Anna Post
- Son: William Francis Hillebrand
- Key Publication: Flora of the Hawaiian Islands (1888)
- Primary Occupation: Physician
Questions readers ask
What medical organizations did Hillebrand help establish?
He was among the ten physicians who petitioned to charter the Hawaiian Medical Society, which is now the Hawaii Medical Association.
Why did Hillebrand travel to Asia in 1865?
He traveled on behalf of the Hawaiian government to source labor for sugarcane plantations, study leprosy treatments, and collect biological specimens.
Achievements
- Fields: botany
