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.
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16 Jan. 1821:
Born at
Muddy Creek Plantation, Powhatan Co.,
Va.,the son of
Jesse and Elizabeth Woodson (Morton)
Hughes.
-
1822:
Both parents died, and
Hugheswas raised by
Gen. Edward C. Carringtonand his
wife,
Eliza(Preston) Carringtonof
Halifax Co., Va.(family
relationship not known).
-
Ca. 1833 -
1837
:
"put to the carpenter's trade in
Princeton, N.J."
-
Ca. 1837 -
1838
:
Attended
Caldwell Institute,Greensboro, N.C.
-
Ca. 1839:
Tutor,
Bingham High School,Hillsboro, N.C.
-
1843:
Studied law,
Fincastle, Va.
-
1846:
Began practice of law,
Richmond, Va.
-
4 June 1850:
Married
Eliza M. Johnston,(1825-1908),
niece of
Gen. Joseph E. Johnstonand niece
and adopted daughter of
John Buchananand
Sarah (Preston) Floyd.
-
1850:
Began writing editorials for the
Richmond
Examiner.
-
1853 -
1857
:
Editor of the
Richmond Examinerwhile
regular editor in
Europe.
-
1855:
Birth of son,
Robert Morton Hughes.
-
1857 -
1861
:
Editor of the
Washington Union,and
lived in home of Secretary of War
John Buchanan Floyd.
-
1861:
Birth of son,
Floyd Hughes(2 other children died
young)
-
1861:
Because of "chronic disease" retired to a farm
near
Abingdon, Va.,where
General and Mrs. Floyd1ived with
the
Hughes family.
-
1861 -
1864
:
Wrote for the
Richmond Examiner,showing
hostility toward
Jefferson Davis'
administration.
-
1865 -
1866
:
Edited the
Richmond Republic,and
generally pursued a course that considered
"nimble"
-
1868:
Delegate to
National Democratic
Convention.
-
1869 -
1870
:
Editor of the
Richmond State
Journal.
-
Ca. 1870:
Wounded
William E. Cameronin a
duel.
-
1872:
Named federal district attorney by
Grant administration.
-
1872:
Nominated for
Congressbut did not win.
-
1873:
Nominated for
Governor of Virginiabut did not
win.
-
1874:
Named Judge of federal court for the
Eastern District of Va.
-
1898:
Resigned judgeship.
-
1901:
Died 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)
