Thomas Hughes (1822–96)

Writer, jurist, and social reformer. Author of Tom Brown’s school days (1857), which describes life at Rugby School. Called to the bar, 1848. Liberal MP for Lambeth, 1865; Frome, 1868–74. Appointed Queen’s counsel, 1869. County-court judge, 1882–96. Leading advocate of trade unions. One of the founders of the London Working Men’s College, 1854; principal, 1872–83.