A Republican from the Twentieth District, the forty-seven year old lawyer and banker lived in Seattle.
Born in Ohio, Hoyt had taught school and served in the Union army. He was graduated from Ohio State and Union Law College in 1867 and served two terms in the Michigan legislature. He had been a supreme court judge in Washington from 1878 to 1887, and at the time of the Convention was manager of the Dexter Horton Bank and president of the Home Insurance Company.
Hoyt was elected president of the Constitutional Convention, having been nominated by Republican caucus after the withdrawal of Turner. He received forty votes, while his opponents, Warner and Cosgrove, received fifteen each. His election was made unanimous on motion of Warner seconded by Cosgrove.