In 1784, Hofmann was made Chair of Philosophy in
Mainz as part of the progressive reforms of Elector
Friedrich Karl von Erthal Like many other future members of the , he was a member of the secret society of the
Illuminati (under the name
Aulus Persius) but the Illuminati were outlawed in 1785 and the lodge dissolved soon after. Hofmann first taught
History of Philosophy until 1791, when he also became chair of
natural law. Besides philosophy and law, Hofmann also was talented in languages. He was proficient in Latin, Ancient Greek, French, Italian, and English, and offered classes in English on
Alexander Pope over many years. As a liberal and progressive thinker, Hofmann supported the use of
German instead of
Latin in University lectures Eventually he became disillusioned with the pace of the reforms in Mainz who had outlawed all criticism of state and religion on 10 September 1792. However, before the investigation of his activities had progressed beyond the questioning of his students, the archbishop and his court fled from the advancing French troops under
General Custine, who arrived in Mainz on 21 October 1792. Two days later, Hofmann helped found the Mainz
Jacobin club and became one of its most active members. A popular and powerful orator, he criticised both the old regime of the Elector and the French military government in his speeches, which were especially supported by the more radical students who idolised the incorruptible Hofmann. In late 1792, he published the , a revolutionary pamphlet criticising the old regime and its instrumentalisation of religion to protect the absolutist order. Hofmann and his supporters called for official posts to be reserved for native born citizens. Hofmann lectured in the rural areas of the French occupied territory, calling for support of the general elections in February and March 1793 which he helped organize. He was elected into the Rhenish-German National Convention as a representative of Mainz On 18 March 1793 Hofmann declared the
Rhenish-German Free State from the balcony of the
Deutschhaus. == French government official and later life ==