George Wurtz Hughes

George Wurtz Hughes (September 30, 1806 – September 3, 1870) was a U.S. Representative from the 6th Congressional district of Maryland.

Born in Elmira, New York, Hughes received a liberal schooling. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point from 1823 to 1827, having been appointed by Caleb Baker, but was not commissioned and instead became a civil engineer in New York City. In 1829, Hughes began to work for the New York State Canal Commission.

In 1853, Hughes was sent to Europe as a representative of the Crystal Palace Association. In 1854, he became president of the Northern Central Railway. In 1855, Hughes was appointed quartermaster general of the Maryland militia. In 1856, he was promoted to brigadier general in the militia.

Hughes married Ann Sarah Maxcy, who travelled with him on his inspection tour of Europe. Their eldest son, Maxcy Galloway Hughes (1841–1863), was born in Europe. He served as a lieutenant in the Confederate States Army and was an assistant ordinance officer on the staff of General John B. Magruder in the District of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.