Hough graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1891. He served on board the USS Morris during the Spanish-American War. Following the war, he alternated assignments in the Naval Intelligence office with ship-board duties. In 1911, he was made the Navy attache to France and, later, to Russia. From 1914 to 1915, he was given his first command: the USS Wilmington, assigned to the Naval Academy. In 1918, he was made a district commander in Brest, France. He was subsequently also a commissioner of the Prisoner of War Conference in Berne, Switzerland. From 1919 to 1921, he commanded the USS Utah and from 1921 to 1922, he commanded the USS New York.

In 1922, while still a Captain, he was appointed as the Governor of the United States Virgin Islands, a role that he only acted in for one year.

In 1923, he was appointed as Director of Naval Intelligence. The following year, he was promoted to Rear Admiral on June 14, 1924. From 1925 to 1926, he commanded the Yangtze Patrol. He retired from the Navy in 1935.
 

Trivia:

He was the first Governor of the U. S. Virgin Islands not to be born in the United States. He was also the first non-acting military governor to govern as a Captain, rather than a Rear Admiral.

PhotoCourtesy of Russell C. Jacobs, October 2009

HOUGH, HENRY HUGHES
RADM USN RET MASS
DATE OF DEATH: 09/09/1943
BURIED AT: SECTION EAST  SITE 1144
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

HOUGH, FLAURENCE OLIPHANT WIDOW OF HENRY
DATE OF BIRTH: 12/11/1877
DATE OF DEATH: 09/28/1970
BURIED AT: SECTION 2  SITE 1144 NH
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
 WIFEOF HH HOUGH, RADM U. S. N.

Webmaster: Michael Robert Patterson