Thomas McKenny Hughes

Thomas McKenny Hughes (17 December 1832 – 9 June 1917) was a Welsh geologist. He was Woodwardian Professor of Geology at Cambridge University.

Thomas M. Hughes was born in Aberystwyth, one of the nine children (six sisters, two brother) of the Welsh bishop Joshua Hughes (1807–1889) and his wife Margaret Hughes (née McKenny). His younger brother Joshua Pritchard Hughes (1847–1938) was bishop of Llandaff. The Mckenny connection was through his maternal grandfather, Sir Thomas McKenny, first baronet and Lord Mayor of Dublin.

Thomas Hughes married Mary Caroline Weston in 1882 (daughter of Rev. G.F. Weston of Crosby Ravensworth, Westmoreland). They had three sons, Tom, George and Alfred. Tom was killed in 1918 whilst carrying out aerial reconnaissance behind enemy lines in France. George was a clerk to the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, and Alfred was an entomologist.

Hughes received the first part of his education at Leamington and Llandovery, and matriculated at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1853, from which he graduated in 1857, and as M.A. in 1867. Hughes had attended Adam Sedgwick’s lectures in Geology and was a member of the Sedgwick Club which formed in Adam Sedgwick's honour.

From 1860 to 1861, Hughes held the post of secretary to the British consul in Rome, Charles Newton and later as acting Consul. It was at this time his interest in archaeology was sparked. Whilst in Rome, Hughes made collections of fossils from the local area.

In 1861, the then Director-General of the Geological Survey, Sir Roderick Murchison offered Hughes a position. He began his Survey work as an Assistant Geologist. Hughes continued working for the Survey until 1873.

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