He represented Placentia and Saint Mary"s from 1836 to 1842 and Saint John"s from 1842 to 1848 in the Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly. In 1833, he came to Saint John"s where he opened a private school. Nugent married Ellen Maria Creedon.
He was elected to the Newfoundland assembly in 1836 but the election results were declared invalid.
He was elected again in 1837. Nugent served as solicitor for the Newfoundland assembly.
He became owner of the Newfoundland Patriot in 1837 after Robert John Parsons was sent to jail for contempt of court. In 1840, he became editor of the Newfoundland Vindicator and later of the Newfoundland Indicator.
In 1844, he was named inspector of schools.
Nugent helped found the Saint John"s Academy in 1845 and taught there from 1845 to 1856. He was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1848. He served as sheriff for the Central District from 1856 to 1871.
Nugent died in Saint John"s in 1874.
