Colonel Sir Edwin Hughes (27 May 1832 - 15 September 1904) was a solicitor and politician active in the Woolwich area.

Born in Droitwich, he was the son of William Hughes of Woolwich Arsenal. In 1860 he was admitted as solicitor and in 1874 began his life-long association with the Conservative Party as a political agent.

He was an officer in the Volunteer Force, becoming commanding officer of the 3rd Kent Artillery Volunteers (Royal Arsenal) and retiring from the force with the honorary rank of colonel in 1887.

In 1885 Hughes was himself elected Member of Parliament for Woolwich. He held the seat until 1902 and was knighted the same year on his retirement from parliament.

He was also a member of the London School Board representing Greenwich from 1882-1888 and of the Metropolitan Board of Works (MBW) representing Plumstead from 1885-89. When the MBW was abolished Hughes was elected to the successor London County Council as a Moderate Party representing Woolwich until 1900, serving three terms.

He was the first Mayor of Woolwich on the creation of the borough in 1900 and was also on the board of governors for Woolwich Polytechnic.

He was married three times and died at his Plumstead home aged 72 and is buried in Plumstead Cemetery.

See more: Hansard  |  Wikipedia.

Not to be confused with the last surviving member of the Charge of the Light Brigade!