William H. Hunt

William Henry Hunt (June 12, 1823 – February 27, 1884) was the 29th United States Secretary of the Navy, Minister to the Russian Empire and a Judge of the Court of Claims.

William H. Hunt
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Russian Empire
In office August 23, 1882 – February 27, 1884
President	Chester A. Arthur
Preceded by	John W. Foster
Succeeded by	Alphonso Taft
29th United States Secretary of the Navy
In office March 7, 1881 – April 16, 1882
President	James A. Garfield Chester A. Arthur
Preceded by	Nathan Goff Jr.
Succeeded by	William E. Chandler
Judge of the Court of Claims
In office May 15, 1878 – March 11, 1881
Appointed by	Rutherford B. Hayes
Preceded by	Ebenezer Peck
Succeeded by	Glenni William Scofield
Attorney General of Louisiana
In office 1876
Governor	William Pitt Kellogg
Preceded by	Alexander Pope Field
Succeeded by	Hiram R. Steele
Personal details
Born	William Henry Hunt June 12, 1823 Charleston, South Carolina
Died	February 27, 1884 (aged 60) Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire
Education	Yale University Yale Law School read law

Education and career

Born on June 12, 1823, in Charleston, South Carolina,[1] Hunt attended Yale University and Yale Law School, then read law with Theodore Hunt and Randell Hunt in New Orleans, Louisiana.[1] He entered private practice in New Orleans from 1844 to 1878.[1] He served as a Colonel in the Confederate States Army in 1862.[1] He was an Acting Professor of Civil Law for the University of Louisiana (now Tulane University) in 1866.[1] He was Attorney General of Louisiana from 1876 to 1877.[1]

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.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 15, 1878, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on March 11, 1881, due to his resignation.[1]

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.[1]

Minister to Russia and death

Hunt served as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Russian Empire for the United States Department of State from 1882 to 1884.[1] He died on February 27, 1884, in Saint Petersburg, Russian Empire.[1]

Namesakes

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

References

1. "Hunt, William Henry - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.

Sources

• "Hunt, William Henry - Federal Judicial Center". www.fjc.gov.
• The United States Court of Claims : a history / pt. 1. The judges, 1855-1976 / by Marion T. Bennett / pt. 2. Origin, development, jurisdiction, 1855-1978 / W. Cowen, P. Nichols, M.T. Bennett. Washington, D.C.: Committee on the Bicentennial of Independence and the Constitution of the Judicial Conference of the United States. 1976.