William Hughes (Senator)

William Hughes ( born April 3, 1872 in Drogheda, Ireland, † January 30, 1918 in Trenton, New Jersey ) was an American politician (Democratic Party), who represented the State of New Jersey in both chambers of Congress.

As a boy, William Hughes emigrated with his parents in 1880 from Ireland to the United States, where the family settled in Paterson (New Jersey). He attended public school and worked as a young man in a silk mill. After studying shorthand at Columbia Business College in Paterson, he was offered a position as stenographer in New York City. Later, he was still working as a clerk in Paterson. During the Spanish- American War he served as a private in the U.S. Army.

After his retirement from the military Hughes embarked on a legal career. He studied law, was admitted in 1900 to the bar and commenced practice in Paterson. Two years later, he successfully ran for his first public office: he was a deputy in the House of Representatives of the United States, where he represented the 6th Congressional District of New Jersey between March 4, 1903 to March 3, 1905. When re-election attempt, he failed in the Republican Henry C. Allen, but after two years he managed to return to Congress, where he remained after repeated re-election until 12 September 1912.

On this day he resigned to accept an appointment as a judge to the Court of Appeal ( Court of Common Pleas ) in Passaic County. He held that post until 1913 and laid it down after he was elected U.S. Senator. As of March 4, 1913 Hughes sat then back in Congress and served among others as Chairman of the Committee to monitor the expenditure of the Navy Department. He died before the end of his term on January 30, 1918 in Trenton, and was buried in Paterson.