Sir Richard Hughes, 2nd Baronet

Admiral Sir Richard Hughes, 2nd Baronet (c. 1724 – 5 January 1812) was a Royal Navy officer.

Sir Richard Hughes Bt
Born	c. 1724 (1724)
Died	5 January 1812 (1812-01-06) (aged 82)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1739–1812
Rank	Admiral
Commands	HMS Spy HMS Hind HMS Active HMS Falmouth HMS York HMS Portland HMS Boreas HMS Firm HMS Worcester HMS Centaur Resident Commissioner, Halifax Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia Downs Station Leeward Islands Station North America Station
Battles / wars	War of the Austrian Succession Seven Years' War Raid on St Malo American Revolutionary War Battle of Cape Spartel
Spouse(s)	Jane Sloane

Naval career

Hughes was probably born in London, England, the son of Captain Richard Hughes. He entered the Portsmouth Naval Academy in 1739.^[1] He served on a number of ships in various locations during his naval career, including HMS Boreas from 1763 to 1766. It is known that Hughes was in Canada in 1778, as he was appointed resident commissioner of the Halifax dockyard.^[2] This appointment was short, as by August of the same year he became governor of Nova Scotia, succeeding Mariot Arbuthnot in that position.^[1] During his tenure, the main concern was the protection of the Province.^[1] In 1779, he succeeded his father as baronet. He became acting commander-in-chief The Downs in 1781.^[3]

Governor Hughes' residence (built 1749). (Located on the site of Province House, which still is furnished with his Nova Scotia Council table)

In 1782 Hughes was second-in-command under Lord Howe at the Relief of Gibraltar.^[1] Between 1783 and 1786 he was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Leeward Islands Station.^[4] Then in 1789 he became Commander-in-Chief, North American Station.^[1]

Legacy

• Fort Hughes (Nova Scotia) (est. 1778)
• Fort Hughes (New Brunswick) (est. 1781)

Arms

Coat of arms of Sir Richard Hughes, 2nd Baronet

Crest A lion couchant Or.[5] Escutcheon Azure a lion rampant Or

References

1. Blakeley, Phyllis R. (1983). "Hughes, Sir Richard". In Halpenny, Francess G (ed.). Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. V (1801–1820) (online ed.). University of Toronto Press.
2. "Research guide N1: Horatio Nelson : Biographies - Cook and Nelson : Research guides : The Library : Researchers : NMM". National Maritime Museum. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
3. Marshall, John (18 November 2010). Royal Naval Biography: Or, Memoirs of the Services of All the Flag-Officers, Superannuated Rear-Admirals, Retired-Captains, Post-Captains, and Commanders. Cambridge University Press. p. 10. ISBN 9781108022712.
4. Haydn, Joseph (13 June 2008). The Book of Dignities: Containing Lists of the Official Personages of the British Empire ... from the Earliest Periods to the Present Time ... Together with the Sovereigns and Rulers of Europe, from the Foundation of Their Respective States; the Peerage of England and Great Britain Original 1851 Digitized by the University of Michigan. Longmans, Brown, Green, and Longmans. p. 279.
5. Burke's Peerage, 37th edition. 1875.

• Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
• Leigh Rayment's list of baronets

External links

Government offices
Preceded by Mariot Arbuthnot	Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia 1778–1781 Served under: Francis Legge	Succeeded by Sir Andrew Hamond
Military offices
Preceded by Marriott Arbuthnot	Resident Commissioner, Halifax 1778–1781	Succeeded by Andrew Snape Hamond
Preceded by John Evans	Commander-in-Chief, The Downs (Acting) 1781–1782	Vacant
Preceded by Hugh Pigot	Commander-in-Chief, Leeward Islands Station 1783–1786	Succeeded by Sir Richard Bickerton
Preceded by Sir Herbert Sawyer	Commander-in-Chief, North American Station 1789–1792	Succeeded by George Murray
Baronetage of Great Britain
Preceded by Richard Hughes	Baronet (of East Bergholt) 1779–1812	Succeeded by Robert Hughes