William Hughes (geographer)

English geographer and cartographer

William Hughes FRGS (1818 – 21 May 1876) was an English geographer, cartographer, author and academic.

Life

In early life Hughes was in business as an engraver in Pentonville, London. In 1840 he became a lecturer at St John's College, Battersea.^[1]

Hughes was Professor of Geography at King's College and Queen's College, London and Royal Female Naval School.^[2] He was for many years Examiner in Geography to the College of Preceptors.^[2] He died at his home, Adelaide Road, St John's Wood, London.^[3]

Works

Hughes was the author of many books; atlases for the classroom, and books for biblical studies and general reference. He was also a prolific editor of reference works and textbooks. Some of his publications were later revised by Sir Richard Gregory, and by John Francon Williams.

A Compendium of Modern Geography by William Hughes and John Francon Williams, 1893

Partial bibliography

• Directions for Taking Instructions on Wills 1840^[2]
• Three Students of Grays Inn (novel) 1846^[2]
• The Stamp Duties Act 1850^[2]
• The Origin and Condition of the Australian Colonies Longman & Co. 1852^[2]
• Manual of Mathematical Geography 1852
• A Manual of Geography, Physical, Industrial and Political 1852
• It's All for the Best (3-volume novel) 1853^[2]
• A Class-book of Modern Geography 1859
• Philips' Family Atlas of Physical, General and Classical Geography 1859
• A Manual of Geography
• Manual of British Geography
• Elementary Class-book of Modern Geography 1860
• A Manual of European Geography 1861
• A Class-book of Physical Geography 1861
• Outlines of Geography 1864
• The Geography of River Systems 1865
• Elementary Class-book of Physical Geography 1866
• Geography in its Relation to History 1870
• Geography of the British Isles 1887
• Bible Maps pub. John W. Parker, London
• Philips' Atlas of Scripture Geography
• Hughes W. (Revised by R. A. Gregory) An Elementary Classbook of Physical Geography 1904
• General Geography, Simplified for beginners (in Gleig's School Series)
• Geography of the British Empire, Simplified for beginners (in Gleig's School Series)
• The Child's First Book of Geography (in Gleig's School Series)

Further reading

• Vaughan, J. E. "William Hughes, FRGS (1818–1876) as Geographical Educationist". In W. E. Marsden (ed.) Historical Perspectives on Geographical Education (IGU Commission on Geographical Education: University of London Institute of Education, 1980)

References

1. Baigent, Elizabeth. "Hughes, William (1817–1876)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/41217. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
2. "The Late Professor Wm. Hughes, F.R.G.S." South Australian Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 28 July 1876. p. 7. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
3. "Family Notices". The South Australian Advertiser. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 25 July 1876. p. 4. Retrieved 17 November 2011.