Admiral Sir Edward Hughes (1794) was a Royal Navy officer who served in the War of Jenkins' Ear, Seven Years' War and American War of Independence. He is best known for fighting a series of five inconclusive fleet actions during the American War of Independence with a French fleet under Pierre André de Suffren.
Naval career
Hughes joined the Royal Navy in 1735, and four years later, was present at the capture of Porto Bello. In 1740, he was promoted to lieutenant and served in the Cartagena expedition of 1741, and at the indecisive Battle of Toulon in 1744. In HMS Warwick, he participated in the action against the Glorioso, but without proper support from the Lark (which was sailing with the Warwick), the enemy escaped. The commander of the Lark was subsequently tried and condemned for his conduct, and Hughes received the vacated command. Captain Hughes was with Edward Boscawen at Louisburg and with Charles Saunders at Quebec.
thumb|upright|1761 portrait of Hughes by [[Violante Beatrice Siries]]
He was in continual employment during the peace, and as commodore, commanded the East Indies Station from 1773 to 1777. This attack, however, never happened.