Nicholas Hughes, Son of Sylvia Plath, Commits Suicide

Nicholas Hughes, the son of late author Sylvia Plath, committed suicide, his family has revealed,. Hughes took his own life on March 16, his sister Frieda Hughes announced over the weekend.

Nicholas Hughes’ Suicide

Nicholas Hughes, 47, had spent his life as a marine biologist. He had served as a professor of ocean sciences at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. He recently left the job, however, with the reason of wanting to pursue pottery work at his own home.

Hughes was said to have long suffered from depression. He ended his life by hanging himself.

Hughes’ mother, Sylvia Plath, committed suicide on February 11 of 1963. Nicholas was only one at the time.

Frieda Hughes’ Statement

The following is from Frieda Hughes’ statement announcing the death of her brother:

“It is with profound sorrow that I must announce the death of my brother, Nicholas Hughes, who died by his own hand on Monday 16th March 2009 at his home in Alaska. He had been battling depression for some time.

His lifelong fascination with fish and fishing was a strong and shared bond with our father (many of whose poems were about the natural world). He was a loving brother, a loyal friend to those who knew him and, despite the vagaries that life threw at him, he maintained an almost childlike innocence and enthusiasm for the next project or plan.”