Robert William Hughes was born at Muddy Creek Plantation, Powhatan County, Va. in 1821. His parents died in 1822 and he was raised by Edward C. Carrington and Eliza Preston Carrington. He attended Caldwell Institute, Greensboro, N. C. and studied law in Fincastle, Va. He married Eliza M. Johnston, niece of Joseph E. Johnston and the adopted daughter and niece of John B. Floyd. Hughes' son was Robert Morton Hughes. Robert William Hughes was a newspaper editor and federal district attorney. Involved in post Civil War Republican Party politics, he was nominated for governor of Virginia and for Congress but did not win. He was appointed judge of the federal court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
16 Jan. 1821Born at
Muddy Creek Plantation, Powhatan Co.,
Va.,the son of
Jesse and Elizabeth Woodson (Morton)
Hughes.1822Both parents died, and
Hugheswas raised by
Gen. Edward C. Carringtonand his
wife,
Eliza(Preston) Carringtonof
Halifax Co., Va.(family
relationship not known).Ca. 18331837"put to the carpenter's trade in
Princeton, N.J."Ca. 18371838Attended
Caldwell Institute,Greensboro, N.C.Ca. 1839Tutor,
Bingham High School,Hillsboro, N.C.1843Studied law,
Fincastle, Va.1846Began practice of law,
Richmond, Va.4 June 1850Married
Eliza M. Johnston,(1825-1908),
niece of
Gen. Joseph E. Johnstonand niece
and adopted daughter of
John Buchananand
Sarah (Preston) Floyd.1850Began writing editorials for the
Richmond
Examiner.18531857Editor of the
Richmond Examinerwhile
regular editor in
Europe.1855Birth of son,
Robert Morton Hughes.18571861Editor of the
Washington Union,and
lived in home of Secretary of War
John Buchanan Floyd.1861Birth of son,
Floyd Hughes(2 other children died
young)1861Because of "chronic disease" retired to a farm
near
Abingdon, Va.,where
General and Mrs. Floyd1ived with
the
Hughes family.18611864Wrote for the
Richmond Examiner,showing
hostility toward
Jefferson Davis'
administration.18651866Edited the
Richmond Republic,and
generally pursued a course that considered
"nimble"1868Delegate to
National Democratic
Convention.18691870Editor of the
Richmond State
Journal.Ca. 1870Wounded
William E. Cameronin a
duel.1872Named federal district attorney by
Grant administration.1872Nominated for
Congressbut did not win.1873Nominated for
Governor of Virginiabut did not
win.1874Named Judge of federal court for the
Eastern District of Va.1898Resigned judgeship.1901Died at
Abingdon, Va.
Dictionary of American Biography
From the guide to the Inventory of the Robert William Hughes Papers, 1818-1900, (Special Collections, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary)