Hutchinson, Christopher Hely- (1767–1826), soldier and MP, was born 5 April 1767 in Dublin, fifth son of the Rt Hon. John Hely-Hutchinson (qv), politician and provost of TCD, and his wife Christiana, Baroness Donoughmore, daughter of Abraham Nickson of Co. Wicklow. In June 1786 he entered TCD, graduating BA in November 1788. Legal studies followed, and he was admitted to Lincoln's Inns in late 1788 and called to the Irish bar in Trinity term 1792. Three years later he entered the Irish parliament, succeeding his father as the representative for the borough of Taghmon, Co. Wexford. He had a close attachment to his elder brother, John Hely-Hutchinson (qv), who had followed a military career, and on the outbreak of the 1798 rebellion served under John as a volunteer. In this capacity he was present at the battle of Ballinamuck and followed his brother on further campaigns abroad. Raised to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in January 1801, he served as a voluntary ADC in the Egyptian campaign of 1801 under Gen. Sir Ralph Abercromby (qv).
In January 1802 he stood as a candidate in the Cork city by-election, caused by his brother John resigning his parliamentary seat on being raised to the peerage as Lord Hutchinson. He was successful and retained the seat in the general election of July 1802. In 1806 he accompanied Lord Hutchinson on a diplomatic mission to St Petersburg and Berlin, and the following year served in the Polish campaign as a gentleman volunteer in the Russian army. He fought at the battles of Eylau (where he was wounded) and Friedland. After a visit to Moscow, he returned to England in 1809 and was vocal in his denunciation of the government's mishandling of the war.
He then concentrated on his political career. He had always been an opponent of the act of union, and over the next number of years he increasingly supported campaigns for the more liberal treatment of Roman Catholics. A firm supporter of Daniel O'Connell (qv), he repeatedly criticised the government for their lack of interest in Irish affairs. His parliamentary career suffered a setback in 1812 when he lost his seat in the general election (November). He did not return to parliament until 1818, when he regained his seat in Cork city in the general election (July); he retained it until his death.
Hely-Hutchinson was noted for his volatile temper, which occasionally led to heated verbal and physical confrontations. Indeed, this was a common Hely-Hutchinson trait, and several members of the family were involved in duels. After the 1820 election a dispute with Patrick W. Callaghan, a relation of an unsuccessful candidate, led to a duel being fought on the banks of ‘Cork Lough’ (Cork Harbour) on 7 April. Neither of the principals was killed, but Hely-Hutchinson, hit in the left hand, had to have a finger amputated.
In his later years he suffered from ill-health, and died (26 August 1826) at his London home, Ben Lomand House, Downshire Hill Rd, Hampstead. He married first (December 1792) Anne (d. March 1796), daughter of Sir James Bond, Bt; they had one son. He married secondly (1818) Anne, daughter of the Very Rev. Maurice Crosbie, dean of Limerick. They had two sons and two daughters. Their second son was Maj.-gen. Edward Hely-Hutchinson (1810–67).