David Edward Hughes (16.05.1831-21.01.1900) was an English physicist and inventor and a Fellow of the Royal Society (1880). He was born in London. In 1838 — 65 he lived and worked in the USA, where he was professor of physics at Bardstown College (from 1851); in 1865 — 67 he was in Russia, and from 1867 in London.
His research was in electromagnetism and electrical engineering. In 1854 he developed a printing telegraph (he received the first patents for it in 1855). The instrument came into use in the USA in 1856 and in Europe in 1862. He also invented the carbon microphone (1878), the induction balance (1881) and a sound meter. He produced electromagnetic waves (1889). He came close to inventing radiotelegraphy. He worked out methods of protecting buildings from lightning.
The Royal Society established the D. Hughes Medal in 1902.