Sir Richard Hughes, 2nd Baronet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir Richard Hughes, 2nd Baronet
Born	c. 1729 (1729)
Died	5 January 1812 (1812-01-06) (aged 82)
Allegiance	Kingdom of Great Britain
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	HMS Boreas The Downs Leeward Islands Station North American Station
Battles/wars	American Revolutionary War

Sir Richard Hughes, 2nd Baronet (born around 1729 – died January 5, 1812) was an important British naval leader. He reached the high rank of Admiral in the Royal Navy. This means he was a very senior officer in charge of many ships and sailors.

Early Life and Naval Training

Richard Hughes was likely born in London, England. His father, also named Sir Richard Hughes, was a Captain in the navy. Young Richard started his naval training early, joining the Portsmouth Naval Academy in 1739. This was a special school for future naval officers.

Life at Sea: Ships and Stations

Throughout his career, Hughes served on many different ships and in various parts of the world. One of the ships he commanded was the HMS Boreas. He was in charge of this ship from 1763 to 1766.

Important Roles in Canada

In 1778, Hughes was in Canada. He was made the resident commissioner of the Halifax dockyard. A dockyard is a place where ships are built, repaired, and supplied. This was a very important job for the navy.

Soon after, in August 1778, he became the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia. This meant he was a top leader in the province. His main job was to protect Nova Scotia during a time of war.

Family Title and Command

In 1779, Richard Hughes inherited a special family title. He became the 2nd Baronet, following his father. Later, in 1781, he took on an acting command. He became the commander-in-chief of The Downs, an important naval area near the coast of England.

Major Naval Operations

In 1782, Admiral Hughes played a key role in a big naval event. He was the second-in-command under Lord Howe during the Relief of Gibraltar. This was a mission to bring supplies and help to the British forces at Gibraltar.

Leading Fleets in Different Regions

After this, Hughes continued to hold important commands. From 1783 to 1786, he was the Commander-in-Chief, Leeward Islands Station. This meant he was in charge of all British naval forces in the Leeward Islands, a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea.

Then, in 1789, he became the Commander-in-Chief, North American Station. In this role, he commanded the British navy across a large area, including North America.

Legacy and Forts

Admiral Sir Richard Hughes left behind a legacy, which means he is remembered for his contributions. Two forts were named after him:

• Fort Hughes (Nova Scotia) (built in 1778)
• Fort Hughes (New Brunswick) (built in 1781)

Images for kids

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  Governor Hughes' residence in Halifax, Nova Scotia.