Hon. Birney Hoyt, ex-circuit judge and attorney at law, Grand Rapids, Mich., was born at Sinclairville, Chautauqua county, N. Y., October 13, 1841. His parents moved to Farmington, Oakland county, Mich., in 1854 and seven years afterwards to Detroit, where their son attended the old Capital and other schools. In 1855 he attended Castleton (Vt.) seminary and spent two terms (1856-57) at Birmingham academy, in Oakland county. In 1857 his father located in Grand Rapids, one half mile south of the fair grounds, where he still resides.

Judge Hoyt attended the high school at Grand Rapids until 1860, when he entered upon the study of law, which he pursed two years in the office of Steven G. Champlin, Holmes & Champlin and C.C. Rood. At the age of twenty years, in 1862, he enlisted in company A., Sixth Michigan cavalry, and served until the termination of the war under Gen. George A. Custer. He was promoted to first sergeant, first lieutenant and captain, and successively commanded a company, a squadron and a regimental battalion. He was permanently disabled at Liberty Mills, Va., September 22, 1863, by a shot through the left shoulder, was captured and sent a prisoner to Libby prison at Richmond, Va. Being paroled after a short time, he was sent to the United States hospital at Annapolis, where he remained eight months. He participated in the following battles with his regiment: Hanover, Huntertown, Smithburg, Williamsport, Boonsboro, Hagertown, Falling Water, Ashby’s Gap, Newby’s Crossroads, Front Royal, Culpeper Court House, Somerville Fort Madison Court House, Liberty Mills, in Virginia, in 1863. In 1864, Deep Bottoms, Front Royal, Shepherdstown, Smithfield, Winchester, Luray, Millford, Port Republic, Woodstock Races and Cedar Creek, Va. In 1865, Dinwiddie Court House, Five Forks, Sailor Creek, Battle of the Ridge, and Asppomatox Court House.

The regiment was mustered out in June, 1865, and Judge Hoyt resumed the study of law in the winter following at Ann Arbor, being admitted to the bar in June, 1866. He remained in practice until 1871, being a part of the time associated with Col. George Gray. He was city recorder and held the recorder’s court four years, from May 1, 1867.

In 1871, on the creation of the Seventeenth judicial circuit, he was elected circuit judge, entered upon the duties of that office May 1, 1871, and was re-elected in the spring of 1875 for the term of six years. His nomination by the republican judiciary convention was by acclamation. Since 1881 he has been engaged in the practice of his profession in Grand Rapids.