William Bulkeley Hughes (26 July 1797 – 8 March 1882) was a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons as a Conservative from 1837 to 1859, and as a Liberal from 1865 to 1882.
Hughes was the eldest son of sir William Bulkeley Hughes of Plas Coch, Llanidan, Anglesey and Elizabeth, of Coed Alun, Caernarfon. He was educated at Harrow School and called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1825.[1]
Hughes was elected Member of Parliament for Carnarvon Boroughs constituency as a Conservative in 1837 and held the seat unti 1859.[2] As a prospector in railway shares, he made significant gains in the 1840s, and organised a banquet given to Robert Stephenson to commemorate the opening of the Britannia Bridge in 1850. He was the chairperson of the Anglesey Central Railway from its founding until it was absorbed by the London and North Western Railway in 1876. He was justice of the peace of Anglesey and Caernarvonshire, and was High Sheriff of Anglesey in 1861.[3]
Hughes was re-elected as MP for Carnarvon Boroughs as a Liberal in 1865 and held the seat until his death in 1882.[2] He is buried in the churchyard of St Edwen's Church, Llanedwen, Anglesey.[4]
Hughes married firstly Elizabeth Wormald daughter of Jonathan Nettleship of Mattersey Abbey near Bawtry and widow of Harry Wormald in 1825.He married secondly Elizabeth Donkin, daughter of William Donkin in 1866.[1]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Love Jones-Parry |
Member of Parliament for Carnarvon 1837–1859 |
Succeeded by Charles Wynne |
| Preceded by Charles Wynne |
Member of Parliament for Carnarvon 1865–1882 |
Succeeded by Love Jones-Parry |
| Preceded by Thomas Bazley |
Oldest Member of Parliament? (not Father of the House) 1880–1882 |
Succeeded by Michael Thomas Bass |