Francis Hughes-Hallett
Encyclopedia
Francis Charles Hughes-Hallett (1838–1903) was a Royal Artillery officer and Conservative
politician who represented Rochester
in the British House of Commons. He investigated one of the cases linked to Jack the Ripper
murders, and was damaged politically by a personal scandal.
Hughes-Hallet was the son of Charles Madras Hughes-Hallett and his wife Emma Mary Roberts. He became a Colonel in the Royal Artillery
. In 1885 he was elected as MP
for Rochester. In 1888 he was involved in the investigation of the murder of Martha Tabram
in Whitechapel
. However a personal scandal led to his being hounded by the press and shunned by his parliamentary colleagues and he stood down from his seat in 1889.
Hughes-Hallett married Catherine Rosalie Greene, the widow of Sir Charles Jasper Selwyn, in 1871 and they had three children. She died in 1875. In 1882, he married Emilie Page von Schaumberg from Philadelphia, the daughter of James von Schaumberg and Caroline Page. She was a brilliant belle, but the marriage ran into difficulties. In 1887 Hughes-Hallet was caught in liaison with his stepdaughter. There was a lengthy divorce battle and Emilie left husband on 1 August 1890, moving to Dinard in France. In 1893 Hughes-Hallet was seeking financial entitlement under his marriage settlement.
Hughes Hallet was represented in a Vanity Fair print of December 18, 1886 by Ape as Statesmen No. 508.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician who represented Rochester
Rochester (UK Parliament constituency)
Rochester was a parliamentary constituency in Kent. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of England from 1295 to 1707, then to the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1708 to 1800, and finally to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801...
in the British House of Commons. He investigated one of the cases linked to Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper
"Jack the Ripper" is the best-known name given to an unidentified serial killer who was active in the largely impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The name originated in a letter, written by someone claiming to be the murderer, that was disseminated in the...
murders, and was damaged politically by a personal scandal.
Hughes-Hallet was the son of Charles Madras Hughes-Hallett and his wife Emma Mary Roberts. He became a Colonel in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
. In 1885 he was elected as MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Rochester. In 1888 he was involved in the investigation of the murder of Martha Tabram
Martha Tabram
Martha Tabram was an English prostitute whose killing was the second of the Whitechapel murders in late 19th century London...
in Whitechapel
Whitechapel
Whitechapel is a built-up inner city district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London, England. It is located east of Charing Cross and roughly bounded by the Bishopsgate thoroughfare on the west, Fashion Street on the north, Brady Street and Cavell Street on the east and The Highway on the...
. However a personal scandal led to his being hounded by the press and shunned by his parliamentary colleagues and he stood down from his seat in 1889.
Hughes-Hallett married Catherine Rosalie Greene, the widow of Sir Charles Jasper Selwyn, in 1871 and they had three children. She died in 1875. In 1882, he married Emilie Page von Schaumberg from Philadelphia, the daughter of James von Schaumberg and Caroline Page. She was a brilliant belle, but the marriage ran into difficulties. In 1887 Hughes-Hallet was caught in liaison with his stepdaughter. There was a lengthy divorce battle and Emilie left husband on 1 August 1890, moving to Dinard in France. In 1893 Hughes-Hallet was seeking financial entitlement under his marriage settlement.
Hughes Hallet was represented in a Vanity Fair print of December 18, 1886 by Ape as Statesmen No. 508.