HUGHES
,
ALFRED WILLIAM
(
1861
-
1900
),
surgeon and professor
;
b.
31 July 1861
at
Aberllefenni, Mer.
, youngest son of
Robert
Hughes
,
quarry manager
. He was educated at the
National School
,
Corris
, and
Dolgelley grammar school
. He was apprenticed to a
draper
at
Dolgelley
, but returned to
work in the slate quarries
at
Aberllefenni
. He started his medical career with
Dr.
J.
Jones
at
Corris
, and later became a student at
Edinburgh University
where (
1884
) he was appointed
demonstrator in anatomy and physiology
. Subsequently he studied at
Leipzig
and in
London
. He graduated in
1885
, and in
1889
became
F.R.C.S. (Edin.)
, and two years later
F.R.C.S. (Eng.)
. He commenced a private practice at
Flint
(
1887
) but returned to
Edinburgh
to resume his
teaching
in the
School of Medicine
. In
1893
he was appointed
professor of anatomy at the Medical School
of the
University College
,
Cardiff
, and in
1897
professor of anatomy
at
King's College
,
London
. At this time he
made numerous and important contributions to the study of anatomy
. During the
Boer War
,
Hughes
was the
originator and organizer of the movement for equipping and supporting the Welsh hospital
in
South Africa
. On the death of several members of the staff he undertook the duty of
chief superintendent
. While on his way home he developed
enteric fever
; he d.
3 Nov. 1900
and was buried at
Corris
. A
Conservative
in politics he unsuccessfully contested one of the
Caernarvonshire divisions
in the Unionist interest.
Bibliography:
-
The Lancet
,
10 Nov. 1900
;
-
Cymru
,
1901
, 181-5;
-
The Transactions of the Honourable Society
of Cymmrodorion
,
1932-3
(contains a list of his books and papers).
Author:
Idwal Lewis, Aberystwyth
