Biography

Queen Consort to King Kamehameha IV of Hawaii from 1856 to 1863. 



Queen Emma's parentage includes not only English roots through John Young, an "English physician," but Hawaiian royalty. Due to her English connections and royal status, Emma was provided an exceptional education at the Royal School taught by Mr and Mrs Cooke. Emma was subsequently instructed by a governess in "French, Geography, and History." Emma was persistent in "inviting the Church of England to send a mission to the islands." Connections between Queen Emma and Queen Victoria of England were strong, with the Queen of England accepting the invitation to be the godmother to Prince Albert--Emma's son. 


Queen Emma was deeply invested in humanitarian causes, building churches, hospitals, and educational facilities for the people of Hawaii. In many ways, Queen Emma was swept up with the spirit of reform that had consumed many lives in the United States and Britain. In July of 1860, King Kamehameha IV dedicated the Queen's Hospital to his wife, Emma, where she "nurtured the hospital with her time and resources."