Colonel Samuel Hughes

one of havre de grace's founding fathers 

Havre de Grace was first incorporated in 1785.  Five gentlemen were named as commissioners of the town, the founding fathers of this new government.  Colonel Samuel Hughes was one of those five commissioners. 

Residing in the Giles' Mansion on Mount Pleasant, high on a hill above the town, Col. Hughes served on the town commission until 1809.  As commissioner, he oversaw the town lottery, inspections of lumber, fish, and slated provisions, rental properties and rates, and more often than not, keeping geese and swine out of town.

Born in 1741 in Frederick County, Hughes made his fortune in the family business as an ironmaster, and he and his brothers oversaw the Antietam furnace which made cannons used in the Revolutionary War.

After moving to Harford County, he took over the Principio Ironworks property and formed a business called Cecil Furnace. He purchased Mount Pleasant in 1803 and spared no expense in decorating the mansion with elaborate wallpaper and decor.  

During the War of 1812, his industrial buildings were attacked by Admiral Cockburn and destroyed.  The financial strain of the destruction of the ironworks was difficult to overcome, and he sold his company a few years later. In 1822, Hughes sold Mount Pleasant to Stump, who later sold it to Governor Paca's grandson, William Paca, in 1834.