George Wurtz Hughes

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George Wurtz Hughes (September 30, 1806 – September 3, 1870) was a U.S. Representative from the 6th Congressional district of Maryland.

Born in Elmira, New York, Hughes received a liberal schooling. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1827, and became a civil engineer in New York City. He was reappointed to the United States Army on July 7, 1838, as captain of topographical engineers, and served in the Mexican-American War. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel of Maryland and District of Columbia Volunteers on August 4, 1847, and to colonel on October 1, 1847. He was honorably mustered out of the volunteer service on July 24, 1848, and commissioned lieutenant colonel on May 30, 1848, resigning on August 4, 1851.

Hughes became president of the Northern Central Railway, and was later elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-sixth Congress from the 6th Congressional district of Maryland, serving one term from March 4, 1859, to March 3, 1861. He worked as a consulting engineer and planter at West River, Maryland until his death there. He is interred in the family burying ground of the Galloway family, Tulip Hill, at West River.

[edit] Reference

• George Wurtz Hughes at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

Preceded by Thomas Fielder Bowie

U.S. Congressman from the 6th district of Maryland 1859–1861

Succeeded by Charles Benedict Calvert