Gordon Battle Hughes

Biography

Gordon Battle Hughes was born on August 17, 1760 in Concord, New Hampshire to Gregory Hughes and his second wife, Marjorie More. Gregory, a successful trader, was able to provide his son with a series of tutors and, for the time, an excellent education. Gregory had a series of wives, though Gordon Battle would be his only male child to reach adult hood. Gregory died in 1770, leaving Gordon battle in the care of his mother.

A young man at the outbreak of the Revolution, Gordon Battle volunteered and served as a drummer for his native New Hampshire militia. As a drummer he saw action at Bunker Hill and the Siege of Boston, serving in the 1st New Hampshire Regiment under John Stark. After the 1st New Hampshire was reorganized into the Fifth Continental Regiment, and saw action on the Canadian front at Trois-Rivieres. Defeat at the hands of the British, and the Fifth Continental was moved south. Despite still being a young man, Gordon Battle was moved into the army proper. He first saw action in this new role at the Battle of Trenton, along with the rest of the Fifth Continental. Six days later the Fifth Continental became the 1st New Hampshire Regiment once again.

Gordon Battle, despite his youth, served with distinction at the Battle of Princeton and was promoted to Corporal. Further service at Saratoga with the 1st New Hampshire saw Gordon Battle promoted, rapidly, to Sergeant and then Lieutenant as his own commanding officers were killed. Although Gordon Battle saw further action at the Battle of Monmouth Courthouse and Sullivan’s Expedition, Gordon Battle’s youth saw his previously rapid promotions end. He spent the final year of the war with the 1st New Hampshire defending the Hudson Highlands.

After the war Hughes attended school at Dartmouth, a relatively new college, where he primarily studied history and philosophy. Although offered a position at the school, he opted for private and then public life.

Hughes established himself in Manchester as a merchant and importer, taking over his father’s business from his uncle, as well as moonlighting as a tutor and lawyer. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1789.