hawkes was born in new york city on august 25, 1865. he was the son of wootton wright hawkes (1811–1887), and eliza deforest (née forbes) hawkes (1823–1913). his father was a professor at trinity college in connecticut, and an amateur farmer in sing sing, new york. his older brother was emile mcdougall hawkes, who was president of the french institute in the united states and who married (and divorced) eva van cortlandt morris, a daughter of augustus newbold morris and the aunt of newbold morris and george l. k. morris.