Background
Vaughan was born in Frederick Street, Cardiff and privately schooled in the town.
Vaughan was born in Frederick Street, Cardiff and privately schooled in the town.
He was elected to the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1891, designing a large number of churches across South Wales, but also designed several hospitals and a school. The building described as his "masterpiece" is Street James Church on Newport Road, Cardiff, completed in 1893. While serving in the Glamorganshire Home Guard of the Volunteer Force he rose to the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
Vaughan in later life became a volunteer and fundraiser for the King Edward VII Hospital, which he partly designed, with his work helping to fund an additional 350 beds and £500,000 in funds (much donated by shipowner, John Cory).
Vaughan died in June 1919 "one of the best known men in Cardiff" He had a well-attended funeral at Street John"s Church and was buried at the cemetery in Adamsdown.