The subject of our present memoir was the son of a respectable gentleman, of good family, and independent fortune, in the county of Herefordshire. Of the city of Hereford his father was many years an Alderman, and once, if not oftener, Mayor. Our hero was intended for the sea service, and entered early into the Navy, but under what Commanders he served, we have not been able to procure information. On the 25th of August 1740, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant by Admiral Vernon, as a reward for the merit which he had displayed at the capture of Porto Bello. From this time we have no account of him till the year 1747, at which period he continued a Lieutenant, and went out a passenger to Louisbourg in the Warwick, with strong recommendations to Commodore Knowles, who then commanded on that station. As on this passage an event occurred, which afterwards occasioned no small controversy, in which Mr. Hughes bore a share, we shall relate the particulars of it at large.

The Lark, of forty guns, commanded by Captain Crookshanks, and the Warwick, of 60 guns, commanded by Captain Erskine, were ordered to proceed with a convoy to Louisbourg.