William Henry Hunt (June 12, 1823 – February 27, 1884) was an American politician and jurist who served as the 29th United States Secretary of the Navy, Minister to the Russian Empire and a judge of the Court of Claims.

Early life

Hunt was born on June 12, 1823, in Charleston, South Carolina, He was the youngest of five sons born to Louisa (née Gaillard) Hunt (1786–1850), sister of U.S. Senator John Gaillard, and Thomas Hunt (1780–1830), who had been born in Nassau, Bahamas where his grandfather Robert Hunt held the position of Governor-General of the Bahamas for many years. His father was a member of the Louisiana State Legislature, a prominent lawyer, and a successful planter.

Federal judicial service

Hunt was nominated by President Rutherford B. Hayes on April 18, 1878, to a seat on the Court of Claims (later the United States Court of Claims) vacated by Judge Ebenezer Peck.

Secretary of the Navy

Hunt served as United States Secretary of the Navy from 1881 to 1882, in the cabinets of President James A. Garfield and President Chester A. Arthur.

  • Ridgely Hunt (1854–1916), a Lt. in the U.S. Navy.
  • Thomas Hunt (1855–1933), who married Helen Jewett, a daughter of U.S. Representative Hugh Judge Jewett, in 1888.
  • Randell Hunt (1856–1898)
  • William Henry Hunt Jr. (1857–1949), the Attorney General of Montana, Governor of Puerto Rico and Federal judge.
  • Livingston Hunt (1859–1943), a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy who married Catharine Howland Hunt (1868–1963), a daughter of architect Richard Morris Hunt.
  • Cornelia Ridgely Hunt (1861–1930), who married Dr. William Kelly Newton (1850–1909) in 1905.
  • Gaillard Hunt (1862–1924), a historian who married Mary Goodfellow.

After the death of his first wife in 1864, he remarried to Sarah Harrison Barker (1819–1908), a daughter of New York merchant John T. Adams, in 1866. His body was returned to the United States and after a funeral at St. John's Church in Washington, D.C. He was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington. He was a member of The Boston Club of New Orleans.

Legacy and honors

Two ships in the United States Navy have been named for Hunt.

References