Thomas McKenny Hughes facts for kids

Thomas McKenny Hughes (born December 17, 1832 – died June 9, 1917) was a famous geologist from Wales. He taught geology as the Woodwardian Professor of Geology at Cambridge University.

Early Life and Family

Thomas McKenny Hughes was born in Aberystwyth, Wales. He was one of nine children. His father, Joshua Hughes, was a bishop. His mother was Margaret Hughes.

In 1882, Thomas Hughes married Mary Caroline Weston. She was also interested in geology. They had three sons: Tom, George, and Alfred. Sadly, Tom died in 1918 during a mission in France. George worked for a company called the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths. Alfred became an entomologist, someone who studies insects.

Education and Early Career

Thomas Hughes first went to school in Leamington and Llandovery. In 1853, he started studying at Trinity College, Cambridge. He finished his first degree in 1857. He later earned his Master of Arts degree in 1867. While at Cambridge, he attended geology lectures by Adam Sedgwick. Hughes was also part of the Sedgwick Club, a group named after his teacher.

From 1860 to 1861, Hughes worked in Rome, Italy. He was a secretary for the British consul, Charles Newton. He even acted as the consul for a while. During this time, he became very interested in archaeology, which is the study of old human history. He also collected fossils from the area around Rome.

Working for the Geological Survey

In 1861, Sir Roderick Murchison offered Hughes a job. Murchison was the head of the Geological Survey at the time. Hughes started as an Assistant Geologist. He worked for the Survey until 1873.

During his time with the Survey, Hughes worked in several places.

• From 1865 to 1866, he studied gravel deposits in Hertford and St. Albans.
• In 1866, he moved to the Lake District. There, he collected fossils from ancient rocks called 'Silurians'.
• He also worked in Westmoreland, Cumberland, and the Yorkshire Dales.

Hughes also discussed geology with other famous scientists. In the 1870s, he talked a lot with Charles Lyell. They went on many geological trips together. In 1872, they explored limestone caves in France.

Professor of Geology at Cambridge

In 1873, Thomas Hughes returned to Cambridge University. He took over from Adam Sedgwick as the Woodwardian Professor of Geology. This was a very important job.

After he got married in 1882, he taught his wife, Mary, about geology. She became a researcher herself. She also helped women students attend fieldwork trips. This meant more women could study geology at Cambridge. About a third of the university's Geological Club members were women.

Thomas and Mary McKenny Hughes traveled to international geology meetings together. They went to Zurich in 1894 and Russia in 1897. Mary kept diaries and scrapbooks about their adventures.

Building the Sedgwick Museum

As a professor, Hughes wanted to create a special museum for Adam Sedgwick. This museum would be a new home for the geology department. It would replace the old, small Woodwardian Museum.

An appeal committee was set up to raise money. By 1878, they had collected £12,000. It took 26 more years to build the museum. Sir Thomas Graham Jackson was the architect. The museum opened on March 1, 1904. King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra were there for the opening.

Later Life and Achievements

Thomas McKenny Hughes passed away on June 9, 1917, at his home in Cambridge. His wife, Mary, died a year later.

Hughes wrote over 50 research papers. Most of his work was about very old rock formations in Wales and the Lake District. He also studied deposits left by glaciers.

He received several honors for his work:

• He was vice-president of the Geological Society in 1862.
• He became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1889.
• He received the Lyell Medal in 1891, which is a very important award in geology.

Archives and Records

Many of Thomas McKenny Hughes's records are kept safe.

• Seventeen boxes of his papers are at the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences. These include letters with other scientists like Sir Charles Lyell. They also have notes from his travels and geological work.
• More family records are at Cambridge University Library.
• Some papers are also at Cambridgeshire Archives. These relate to his work with the Chamber of Agriculture.