Edward Merritt Hughes

Edward Merritt Hughes (28 January, 1850 – 28 September, 1903) was an officer in the United States Navy during the Spanish-American War.

Life and career

Hughes was born in Lockbourne, Ohio, the son of merchant Abram A. Hughes. He was appointed to the Naval Academy in 1866 and graduated on June 7, 1870. He passed through the grades of Ensign, Master, Lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander, and, on March 3, 1901, was commissioned Commander. [Bareis, p. 78.]

After service in a number of ships and stations ashore, he reached the high point in his career during the Spanish-American War. He was Executive Officer of "Petrel" during the Battle of Manila Bay. Immediately after the action, he commanded a small boat which boarded and set fire to five Spanish ships lying in Cavite Harbor, despite reports that fuses had been set to their magazines and in the face of a large and excited armed force on shore nearby. He was advanced five numbers in rank for eminent and conspicuous conduct on this occasion. [Mooney, James L., "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting" Ships, Washington: United States Naval History Division, Naval Historical Center, 1959, p. 389.]

His commanding officer later wrote, "The action of Lieutenant Hughes in setting fire to the enemy's sunken ships in the face of a well armed superior, but demoralized force, was the one act of conspicuous gallantry which the battle that day afforded." [Bareis, p. 79.]

Commander Hughes died in the U.S. Naval Hospital in Yokohama, Japan. ["Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the Navy of the United States and Marine Corps", Washington: Government Printing Office, 1903.]

The destroyer USS "Hughes" was named in his honor.

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Notes

References

*DANFS
*Bareis, George Frederick, "History of Madison Township, Including Groveport and Canal Winchester, Franklin County, Ohio", Canal Winchester, Ohio: Geo. F. Bareis, publisher, 1902.