Hughes was probably born in
London, England, the son of Captain
Richard Hughes. He entered the
Portsmouth Naval Academy in 1739. He served on a number of ships in various locations during his naval career, including from 1763 to 1766. It is known that Hughes was in Canada in 1778, as he was appointed resident commissioner of the
Halifax dockyard. This appointment was short, as by August of the same year he became governor of Nova Scotia, succeeding
Mariot Arbuthnot in that position. , 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. Then in 1789 he became
Commander-in-Chief, North American Station. == Legacy ==