Sir Richard Hughes, 2nd Baronet

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

Admiral Sir Richard Hughes Bt
Born	c. 1724 (1724)
Died	5 January 1812 (1812-01-06) (aged 82)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
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