Statewide County HI Archives Biographies.....Bishop, Charles Reed January 25, 1822 - June 7, 1915
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
J. Orr orr@hawaii.com August 26, 2009, 3:32 pm

Source: The Story of Hawaii and Its Builders. Published by Honolulu Star Bulletin, Ltd., Territory of Hawaii, 1925.
Author: Edited by George F. Nellist

CHARLES REED BISHOP, Financier and Philanthropist. Founder of Hawaii’s first 
bank, husband of the beautiful Princess Bernice Pauahi Paki, to whom the 
throne of Hawaii was once offered, intimate friend and counselor of the 
Kamehamehas, member of the privy council during the reigns of Kings Kamehameha 
IV, Kamehameha V, Lunalilo, Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani, founder of the 
Bishop Museum and a great philanthropist who aided in the upbuilding of the 
schools of Hawaii, Charles Reed Bishop occupies a distinguished position in 
the history of Hawaii.
  Without special educational advantages and with no capital, Mr. Bishop 
applied himself to a business career upon his arrival in Honolulu in 1846, and 
built up a great fortune which, coupled with the inherited wealth of his wife, 
enabled them to give millions to their philanthropic enterprises, foremost of 
which were the schools and religious interests of the community.
  Mr. Bishop’s start in Honolulu was most humble. For a wage of one dollar a 
day he posted books for the finance department of the government. After 
clerking in various positions, he became collector general of customs for the 
kingdom, later entering the mercantile business with W. A. Aldrich as his 
partner. For five years this business was carried on successfully. But Mr. 
Bishop had seen the need of a banking institution in Honolulu, so the firm of 
Aldrich & Bishop was formed in 1858. It later became the Bank of Bishop, and 
is now incorporated as the Bank of Bishop & Co., Ltd.
  Aldrich & Bishop started banking in modest fashion. A small room was rented 
and Mr. Bishop acted as bookkeeper, cashier, paying teller and janitor. 
Largely because of his business integrity and financial ability the bank 
prospered, and became a pillar of strength for Hawaii in its financial 
emergencies.
  Because of Mr. Bishop’s faith in the future of Hawaii, he came to the aid of 
the sugar industry in its struggling infancy, and gave his powerful support to 
other enterprises, thus becoming a real builder in the commercial and 
industrial development of modern Hawaii. When the reciprocity treaty between 
Hawaii and the United States was signed in 1876 there followed a period of 
heavy investments in sugar enterprises, many of which required great 
extensions of credit. This brought about a situation approaching a crisis, 
which seriously affected the business community of Honolulu and the financial 
stability of some of its leading firms. Although carrying the country through 
the emergency meant the assumption of a great financial responsibility, Mr. 
Bishop stood in the breach and the danger was averted.
  June 4, 1850, marked perhaps the most important date in the life of Mr. 
Bishop, for it was upon that day that he and the beautiful Princess Bernice 
Pauahi Paki, a descendant of King Kamehameha I, quietly hastened away from the 
home of the High Chief Paki, the princess’ father, and were married at the 
Royal School.
  Mr. Bishop was offered the portfolio of minister of finance, which he 
declined. Subsequently, however, he took a seat in the lower branch of the 
legislature, and in 1860 was made a Noble and a member of the upper house of 
the legislature for life. He was a member of the privy council during the 
reigns of four kings and Queen Liliuokalani, and was minister of foreign 
affairs for King Lunalilo.
  Upon the death of King Kamehameha V, whose advisor Mr. Bishop had been, 
Princess Bernice Pauahi Paki Bishop was offered the throne, but did not 
accept. Lunalilo was then elected king and Mr. Bishop was placed at the head 
of the cabinet.
  In 1876 Mr. Bishop and his royal wife traveled abroad, and were presented at 
the courts of Queen Victoria and Pope Pius IX. Mrs. Bishop died in 1884, 
leaving an estate valued at $3,000,000, all of which was given to the 
Kamehameha Schools for the advancement of education among boys and girls, 
preference to be given those of Hawaiian blood.
  Mr. Bishop, also widely known for his philanthropy, built the world famous 
$1,000,000 Bishop Museum at Honolulu as a memorial to his wife, made gifts to 
Punahou and other schools and religious institutions, and upon his death left 
a fund of $750,000 for the support of the museum and schools. This bequest was 
made through the establishment of the Bishop Trust, the endowment now 
approaching $1,000,000. After the death of his wife, Mr. Bishop made frequent 
trips to the mainland and in 1894 he moved to San Francisco, where he had 
already become interested in the Bank of California, and he was elected a vice-
president of that institution.
  Charles R. Bishop was born at Glens Falls, N.Y., Jan. 25, 1822. He was a 
descendant of sturdy New England stock, his grandfather having fought for 
American independence in the Revolution. Orphaned in his early childhood, Mr. 
Bishop went to live with his grandparents. His first real employment was at 
the age of 15 when he left home, went to a neighboring village and took a 
position in a country store. He was also employed for a time on a farm, and 
when he was 20 became a salesman and bookkeeper in a store at Sandy Hill. It 
was in 1845, four years before California became the mecca for gold seekers, 
that Mr. Bishop turned westward with Oregon his goal. On Feb. 23, 1846, he 
sailed from Newburyport on the little brigantine “Henry,” which was to round 
Cape Horn, touch at Honolulu and continue to Oregon. Here fate stepped in. A 
stormy passage made Mr. Bishop decide to remain in Honolulu until the Spring. 
He obtained a position, the lure of Hawaii held him, and he remained to make 
history in these islands.
  Mr. Bishop died in Berkeley, Calif., June 7, 1915. His remains were cremated 
and shipped to Honolulu for interment. His funeral was one of the most notable 
ever held in the islands, with all royal honors. The urn containing his 
remains was carried to and from Kawaiahao Church by the late Prince 
Kalanianaole. A guard of honor of cadets from Kamehameha School accompanied 
the cortege from the church to the Kamehameha tomb in the Royal Mausoleum in 
Nuuanu Valley, where his ashes were placed on Mrs. Bishop’s coffin. Riding in 
the forefront of the funeral procession was the late Queen Liliuokalani, one 
of Mr. Bishop’s closest friends.


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