George Edward Hughes

HUGHES, GEORGE EDWARD, pharmacist, businessperson, and farmer; b. 15 April 1854 in Charlottetown, son of Frederick William Hughes and Margaret Binns; m. 13 January 1878 Anna Gordon Boyle, and they had seven children, Gordon, Frank M., Mamie, Hazel, Helen, Laura, and Mary E.; Methodist; d. 4 November 1937 in Charlottetown. Hughes, a Liberal, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the general election of 1900 for 2nd Queens. He was re-elected in the general elections of 1904, 1908, 1915, and 1919. He was defeated in the general elections of 1912 and 1923. On 19 September 1919, Hughes was appointed to Executive Council as a Minister without Portfolio. Before entering provincial politics, Hughes was a member of Charlottetown City Council for 12 years, during which time he advocated permanent sidewalks in the city, as well as the Victoria Park roadway. He received his early education in private schools and then went on to Prince of Wales College and St. Dunstan's College. At the age of 15, he studied medicine under Dr. Frank D. Beer, and from him learned to dispense medicine and prepare prescriptions. Hughes opened a drugstore with Samuel W. Dodd at Medicine Hall on the corner of Queen and Grafton Streets in Charlottetown in 1872. In 1874, at the age of 21, he moved to the opposite corner, where he leased space in Apothecaries Hall, owned by the DesBrisay family. Hughes later purchased this property and carried on a business there for the rest of his life. In 1900 he erected a new building on the site, which continues to be used as a retail outlet. Hughes was a well-respected pharmacist in the province, and carried on an extensive business with branch stores in Souris, Montague, Victoria, and Crapaud. Apart from his business and political concerns, Hughes served as honourary president of the Provincial Pharmaceutical Association, and on the executive of the Canadian Pharmaceutical Association. He was a president of the Charlottetown Fire Insurance Company and President of the Board of Trade. Hughes was also a director of the Provincial Exhibition Association, and, as president, he proved instrumental in the establishment of the Prince Edward Island Development and Tourist Association, whose objective was to increase visitors to the province, especially to Charlottetown. Hughes owned a farm in Brookfield, which was well-stocked with cattle, as well as horses, of which he was especially fond. He bred harness racehorses. Hughes was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Oddfellows, and the Independent Order of Forresters. He published a calendar and cookbook called 1909 Household Calendar Cook Book. George Hughes died 4 November 1937. Anna Hughes of Charlottetown, the daughter of William Boyle, was born 24 December 1853 and died 22 November 1931.