James H. Hughes

Infobox Officeholder
honorific-prefix =
name = James H. Hughes
honorific-suffix =


imagesize =
small

office = U. S. Senator from Delaware
term_start = January 3 1937
term_end = January 3 1943
predecessor = Daniel O. Hastings
successor = C. Douglass Buck
birth_date = birth date|1867|1|14|mf=y
birth_place = Felton, Delaware
death_date = death date and age|1953|8|29|1867|1|14
death_place = Lewes, Delaware
spouse =
party = Democratic
residence = Dover, Delaware
alma_mater =
occupation =
profession = lawyer
religion =

James Hurd Hughes (January 14 1867 – August 29 1953) was an American lawyer and politician from Dover, in Kent County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served as U.S. Senator from Delaware.

Early life and family

Hughes was born January 14 1867 in Kent County, Delaware, near Felton. He attended the Collegiate Institute in Dover, taught school for a few years, studied the law and was admitted to the Bar in 1890. Along with his law practice he engaged in agricultural pursuits and banking.

Political career

Hughes served as the Delaware Secretary of State from 1897 until 1901. He ran for the office of Governor of Delaware in 1916, but was defeated by Republican John G. Townsend, Jr., a businessman from Selbyville, Delaware. Twenty years later, in 1936 he was elected to the U. S. Senate, defeating incumbent Republican U. S. Senator Daniel O. Hastings. During this term, he served with the Democratic majority in the 75th, 76th, and 77th Congress.

Hughes lost his bid for a second term in 1942, losing the Democratic Party nomination to E. Ennalls Berl. In all he served from January 3 1937 until January 2 1943, during the administration of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. After completing his term in the Senate, he returned to the practice of law. All the while, from 1905 until his death, he was a director of the Farmers Bank.

Death and legacy

Hughes died August 29 1953 in Lewes, Delaware and is buried at the Lakeside Cemetery, in Dover.

Public offices

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. U.S. Senators take office January 3rd, and have terms of six years.