About Kate Duval Hughes
Born 1837. Kate Duval Hughes was an American inventor.
Kate Duval Hughes (born June 15, 1837) was an American author and inventor of two window-sash-security devices.
Early life and family Hughes was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 15, 1837. Her father, French-born Peter Stephen Duval, owned a large lithographic firm in Philadelphia. Her brother was Stephen C. Duval.
She married, but the marriage ended in divorce. At the same, the family fortune was lost. She then spent several years in Europe before moving to Washington, D. C. where she took a job with a federal agency.
In 1890, Hughes discovered how to extract the essential oil of frankincense. She incorporated this oil into an ointment for skin diseases, which was used in many hospitals.
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Kate Duval Hughes?
American author and inventor
When was Kate Duval Hughes born?
Kate Duval Hughes was born on 15 June 1837 in Philadelphia.
What was Kate Duval Hughes's occupation?
Kate Duval Hughes was an inventor.
What nationality was Kate Duval Hughes?
Kate Duval Hughes was American.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Kate Duval Hughes
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Kate Duval Hughes. https://biography.guide/kate-duval-hughes/
MLA: "Kate Duval Hughes." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/kate-duval-hughes/.
Chicago: "Kate Duval Hughes." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/kate-duval-hughes/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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