Hosmer Family Genealogy & History

Eric John Hosmer, born October 24, 1989, is a former American professional baseball first baseman renowned for his MLB career with teams like the Kansas City Royals, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago Cubs. A top prospect from American Heritage High School in Florida, Hosmer was the third overall pick in the 2008 MLB draft. His career highlights include winning consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 2013 to 2015 and in 2017, a Silver Slugger Award, and being named MVP of the 2016 MLB All-Star Game. Notably, he was part of the 2015 World Series champion Royals, and his impressive rookie year earned him third place in the Rookie of the Year balloting.

Eric Hosmer was born to Mike, a retired firefighter, and Ileana, a nurse from Cuba who immigrated to the United States at age seven. His parents met in 1979 in Coral Gables, Florida, and married four years later. The family, including Hosmer's older brother Mike Jr., lived in Cooper City, Florida. His father played a crucial role in his baseball development, coaching his games and providing practice, while his mother supported his education and monitored his baseball progress. The family was deeply involved in Hosmer's baseball journey, even hiring a renowned hitting instructor to refine his skills.

Titus Hosmer (1736 – 1780) was a distinguished American Founding Father, attorney, and jurist from Middletown, Connecticut. He played a significant role as a delegate for Connecticut to the Continental Congress in 1778, where he signed the Articles of Confederation. Notably, Hosmer served in the Connecticut State Assembly from 1773 to 1778, was its speaker in 1777, and later joined the State Senate. In 1780, he was appointed as a federal judge on the Court of Appeals in Cases of Capture, showcasing his substantial legal contributions during the formation of the United States.

Hosmer's family origins trace back to England, with ancestral ties to Rotherfield in Sussex and later Kent. His colonial ancestor, Colonel Thomas Titus, was a Roundhead in the New Model Army who immigrated to Boston, eventually settling in Middletown, Connecticut. Titus Hosmer married Lydia Lord and had sons who continued the family’s legal legacy, including Stephen Hosmer, chief justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court, and Hezekiah Lord Hosmer, a U.S. representative for New York. The Hosmer family is historically associated with the founding of Hartford, Connecticut.

James Kendall Hosmer (1834–1927) was a multifaceted American figure, renowned for his roles as a Union soldier during the Civil War, a pastor, historian, author, and an esteemed professor of history and literature. Notably, Hosmer fought on the frontlines, declined a safer position, and contributed significantly to Civil War literature. His scholarly pursuits included writing on early American history, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and German literature. Hosmer also served as the president of the American Library Association and held key academic positions at the University of Missouri and Washington University, shaping the fields of English and German literature.

Born in Northfield, Massachusetts, James Kendall Hosmer was the son of Unitarian clergyman George Washington Hosmer and Hanna P. (Kendall). His family had a strong military tradition, with ancestors participating in the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, and the Civil War. His great-grandfather served in the Massachusetts militia during the Battles of Lexington and Concord, highlighting a legacy of service and commitment. The Hosmer lineage traces back to Ticehurst, Sussex, England, in the sixteenth century.

Chester Craig Hosmer, born on May 6, 1915, in Brea, California, was a distinguished American lawyer and politician. Serving as a United States Representative from California for eleven terms from 1953 to 1974, Hosmer was notable for his votes in favor of landmark Civil Rights Acts in 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1968, as well as the 24th Amendment. A former naval commander, he also called for an investigation into the 1967 USS Liberty incident. After his congressional career, he served as president of the American Nuclear Energy Council from 1975 to 1979. Hosmer passed away on October 11, 1982, and was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.