From almost the very beginning of Concord’s founding in 1635, the Hoar family played a prominent role in the town’s history. Recognized for their leadership in law, politics, and social reform, in addition to their distinguished legal and political careers, the Hoars shaped both local government and national policy. Described as “leaders to a higher and better sphere, both in social and political sense,”1 they were better known around town—and throughout Massachusetts—as the Royal Family of Concord. And none of them lived up to the family ideal of public service better than George Frisbie Hoar.
