On his outward voyage, he took Gorée from the French, and he was called upon to conduct only minor operations for the next two years, as the enemy could not muster any force fit to meet the powerful squadron Hughes had brought from the Channel.

[4] In 1782, at the reopening of hostilities in the East Indies, he stormed Trincomalee a few days before the squadron of Suffren arrived in the neighbourhood.

[2] Suffren was perhaps the ablest naval commander that France ever produced, but his subordinates were factious and unskilful; Hughes on the other hand, whose ability was that born of long experience rather than genius, was well supported.

No fewer than five fiercely contested general actions were fought by the two fleets, neither of them gaining a decisive advantage.

[citation needed] The British East India Company ship the Sir Edward Hughes launched in 1784, was named after him.