Francis Wade Hughes | |
|---|---|
| Attorney General of Pennsylvania | |
| In office March 14, 1853 – January 17, 1855 | |
| Governor | William Bigler |
| Preceded by | James Campbell |
| Succeeded by | Thomas E. Franklin |
| Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania | |
| In office January 21, 1852 – March 14, 1853 | |
| Preceded by | Alexander L. Russell |
| Succeeded by | Charles Alexander Black |
| Member of the Pennsylvania Senate, 8th district | |
| In office 1843–1844 | |
| Preceded by | James Mathers |
| Succeeded by | Henry C. Eyer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 20, 1817 Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, US |
| Died | October 22, 1885 (aged 68) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Silliman |
| Occupation | Lawyer, politician |
Francis Wade Hughes (August 10, 1817 – October 20, 1885) was an American lawyer and politician from Pennsylvania. He served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 8th district from 1843 to 1844. He served as Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 1852 to 1853 and as Attorney General of Pennsylvania from 1853 to 1855. Although pro-Union, he was tarred as a secessionist "traitor" in the press during the 1862 elections, ending his political career. During the 1870s, he was the chief prosecutor in the Molly Maguires trials.