George Wurtz Hughes
Encyclopedia
George Wurtz Hughes 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.
Born in Elmira, New York
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
, Hughes received a liberal schooling. He graduated from the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point in 1827, and became a civil engineer in New York City. He was reappointed to the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
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
Northern Central Railway
The Northern Central Railway was a Class I Railroad connecting Baltimore, Maryland with Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Completed in 1858, the line came under the control of the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1861, when the PRR acquired a controlling interest in the Northern Central's stock to compete with the...
, 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
West River, Maryland
West River is an unincorporated community in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States....
until his death there. He is interred in the family burying ground of the Galloway family, Tulip Hill, at West River.