Thomas Hughan

Hughan was born circa 1760 in Burns, Kirkmabreck, Kirkcudbright, the first son of Alexander Hughan, a merchant from Creetown. His mother was Margaret Gerran. He had one brother, Alexander (died 30 March 1810). On 1 February 1810 he married Jean Milligan,[2] eldest daughter of Robert Milligan, the slave-owner and dock promoter in part responsible for the construction of the West India Docks. He had two illegitimate daughters and one son, Thomas. Sir Arthur Henniker-Hughan was his great-grandson.

During the late 18th century, Hughan spent 12 years in Jamaica working for the slave-trading West India Dock Company, returning to London around 1797. He continued working for the Company and was promoted to Director in 1803, and to Deputy Chairman in 1805. While residing in London, he lived at 8 Billiter Square and 12 Devonshire Place. He also served as founding member and Director of the Imperial Fire Insurance Company.[3]

Hughan served as a Member of Parliament twice, for the constituency of East Retford from 1806 to 1807, and for Dundalk from 25 July 1808 to 29 October 1811.[4] On 27 February 1807, he used his maiden speech in the House of Commons to protest against the proposed abolition of the slave trade, stating that the bill was "fraught with ruin to the colonies and to the Empire",[1] and that "there did not exist a more happy race than the slaves in our colonies".[5] He voted against the bill twice but failed to defeat it, the bill passing into law as the Slave Trade Act 1807, which formally prohibited the slave trade in the British Empire. (Slavery itself was not abolished until the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833).

In 1810, Hughan was called before the Bullion Committee to answer questions regarding the bullion supply in Jamaica and the excessive dividend payments of the West India Dock Company.[1]

Hughan died following a short illness on 29 October 1811, two days before his son was born.