Hello Everyone! I'm Faith (she/her) and I'll be playing Mr. James Hughes MP. Posting this forum to track any potential connections and give a little info about the character. Feel free to let me know if you would like any connections. I'll be updating as connections are made and more details come about. Mr. James Hughes, MP Age: 36
Height and Weight: 5’11”, 165 lbs
Hair: Dark brown
Eyes: Blue
Skin color: Light
Sexual Orientation: Demisexual
Marital status: Widower, reentering the marriage market. Homes: London townhouse but also has a country home, Iford Manor, in Wiltshire. Education: Eton, then Cambridge Background: As the younger son of a viscount, James understood from an early age that he must make his own way in the world. Unlike his father and elder brother, he has always been quiet, studious and frugal. Hewas often overlooked by his father and brother as a child, for he did not share their charms or good looks, preferring to keep to the library than pursue sporting or socializing. He studied the law and became a barrister, with the aim to one day take the county seat as a member of parliament, a feat he later achieved at age 30.
Eventually James did turn his eye toward marrying. He looked for a wealthy spouse that shared his morals but also came with wealth. He eventually met his first wife, a the daughter of a Malaysian mining heiress. His wife shared his work ethic and sense of duty. Their marriage was first and foremost a business negotiation. Her family wanted connections to an esteemed family and he needed a wealthy spouse to help with his political career. It was not a love match, but the pair respected each other and were good friends. She remained very involved with her own family’s business even after marriage and during her pregnancy. However, the pregnancy was complicated, and she died not long after bringing their daughter Bella into the world. James was heartbroken by his wife’s death, but some would say his response was cold, as he continued to devote himself fully to his work. He has never been one to let his own emotions get in the way of his goals.
Mr. Hughes continued to serve as MP and raise his daughter on his own (along with a nursemaid of course). His daughter is now three years old, and he is beginning to fear that he cannot parent and continue his political pursuits. He is now in search of a partner to help support his career and help him raise his daughter. He is returning to London for the season, not only because parliament is in session, but also to help bring out his niece, the young Charlotte Hughes (Another player), whose father (James’s older brother) recently passed. Though James generally detests social affairs, he finds this year he will have little chance of avoiding them. Family:
Living:
Niece - @(Emma) Viscountess Charlotte Hughes
Daughter - Bella Hughes, age 3
Deceased:
Father - Viscount Hughes
Elder Brother - Jacob Hughes, Viscount
Wife - Amina Hughes
Friends/Allies/Other Connections:
Reach out if you'd like a connection with Mr. Hughes! Politics Mentee: @ Duke James Richmond Eton Chums: @Colonel G.O. Molyneux
Timeline:
1774 Sept 4th: Born
1786-1792: Attends Eton
1792-1796: Attends Cambridge.
1796-1799: Studies in one of London's Inns of Court before taking the bar and becoming a barrister.
1805: Runs for MP of Wiltshire and is elected.
1806: Marries Amina, a Malaysian mining heiress.
1808: Amina dies giving birth to their daughter Bella.
Also adding character pics for Hughes and his daughter, Bella
Haven't been active on the forums a lot lately, thought I would give this forum post a boost in case new people to the game would like to reach out to Hughes or to form a new connection.
Currently working on a tie with @Lady/Marquess Emmeline Petty-Fitzmaurice (Robin) ; it's likely that my character would at least know of you. I'm itching for some political talk/debate/rivalry. Catherine's the granddaughter of Bonnie Prince Charlie so she has some strong feelings, but is also somewhat young and can be influenced.
We could be widow/parent friends! Rosaline's daughter Hope is 2 and she lost her wife in 1809 and husband in 1810 so maybe they became friends connecting over single parenthood?
@Mr. James Hughes MP...I don't know how I missed this, but as a political character, it might make sense for your family to have at least some connection to mine (though we specifically might not have overlapped). My father was William Petty-FitzMaurice and he rose through the ranks to serve for a short time as PM (while you were at Eton and just before I was born).
If your father was in politics at all, he most likely would have been an ally or rival. If you're interested I can share William's political CV.
Also because I am extra like that, Ive made a spotify playlist for character inspiration
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5svh9TezEYYxEpdLanB5Jo?si=wxhtDmGMRDGJZSI1fGJiFA&utm_source=copy-link
Just adding a note for your records:
@ Duke James Richmond (Greg) ‘s father acted as a mentor in politics when @Mr. James Hughes MP was a younger man. Now that the Duke of Somerset is sitting in the House of Lords, Hughes is mentoring Richmond.
Just commenting here to cement in Eton chums, in case we ever want to chat further on the details.
Hey @Mr. James Hughes MP I was wondering if you might be a political mentor to my character? I thought perhaps my father had mentored Hughes as a young man, and now that Henry's son (that's me!) is 24 and seated in the House of Lords, Hughes might make a great mentor figure. A kind of cycle of mentoring and contrasting between the Lords and Commons?