Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 05.djvu/466

 HUNT

HUNT

ceived his warrant in 1825 lie was promoted lieutenant in 183(5. commander in 18oj, captain in lSo2, and commodore in 186.1, and was retired in 1877. He was in command of the Electra, a sup- ulyship in Commodore Conner's Gulf squadron in 1816, and during tlie early part of the civil war was attached to the Pacific squadron. He was inspector of ordnance at Washington, D.C., 1863-67 ; on special duty at New London, Conn., 1S67-70, and on the reserved list, 1870-77. He died in New Haven. Conn.. Jan. 21, 1884.

HUNT, Ward, jurist, was born in Utica, N.Y., June 11. 1810 : sou ol' Mont'^omery and Eliza (Stringiiam) Hunt ; grandson of "Ward and B.Uhsheba (Briggs) Hunt, and a descendant of Thomas Hunt, who resided in Stamford, Conn., in 1650, and removed to "Westchester, Conn., in 16")2. He was a student at Hamilton college and was graduated at Union in 1J28. He studied law under Judge Gould, of Litchfield, Conn., and Judge Denio of Utica. N.Y., and was admitted to the bar. He was a member of the state assembly in 1839, and mayor of Utica in 1844. He was a Democrat, but opposed the annexation of Texas and the extension of slavery ; su|)ported "Van Buren and Adams in 1848 and in 1856 helped t) form the Republican party. He succeeded his law preceptor and partner. Justice Hham Denio, on the bench of the New York court of appeals in 1865, ami was made chief judge of the court in 1868, and when that court was reconstructed by constitutional amendment, he became commis- sioner of appeals, which position he resigned, Jan. 7, 1873, to accept from President Grant the posi- tion of justice of the U.S. supreme court bj- ap- pointment, Dec. 11, 1872. He was retired by con- gress on a pension in 1883 on account of ill health. He was thrice married: on Nov. 8, 1837, to Mary Ann Savage, of Salem, N.Y., who died May 18, 1846 ; secondly, June 18, 1853, to Maria, daughter of James Taylor, of Albany, N.Y. ; and after her death to Elizabeth, daughter of Commodore Charles G. Ridgeley, of Baltimore. Md. Rutgers and Union colleges conferred on him the honorary degree of LL.D. in 1870. He died in "Washing- ton. D.C.. :Man-h 25. 1880.

HUNT, Washington, governor of New York, was born in Windham, N.Y., Aug. 5, 1811 ; son of Sanford and Fanny (Rose) Hunt. In 1818 his father removed to Portage, N.Y. He was educated at the common .scliools ; studied law, 1829-34. and Viecame a lawyer in Lockport, N.Y. He was married, Nov. 20. 1834, to Mary H., daughter of Henry Walbridge, of Ithaca, N.Y. He did not engage actively in practice as liis time was fully occupied with the care of his landed interests. He was the first judge of Niagara county in 1836. He was a representative in the 28th, 29th and 30th congresses, 1843-49, being

chairman of the committee on commerce in the 30th congress and declining to be a candidate for a fourth term. He was state controller, 1849-50 ; and governor of the state, 1851-52, being defeated for re-election in 1852 by Horatio Seymour. He then retired to his farm near Lock- port. He was tem- porary chairman of the last Whig na- tional convention in 1856 ; was chairman of the Democratic national convention at Richmond, Va. , June 21, 1860, that nominated Bell and Everett, where he de- clined the nomina- tion for Vice-Presi- dent of tiie United States ; was a delega^3 to the Democratic national convention of 18;)4, and to the National Union convention in 1866. He was a prominent lay delegate to the conventions of t'.ie Protestant Episcopal church. He received the degree of LL.D. from the Universit^'of Rochester in 1'151. He died in New York city, Feb. 2, 1867. HUNT, WJHiam Henry, cabinet officer, was born in Charleston. S.C. in 1824 ; son of Thomas and Louisa (Gaillard) Hunt. His father was op- posed to the doctrine of nullification and was in- duced to leave South Carolina and settle with his family in New Orleans, La. William was a stu- dent at Yale college, 1840-41, but was not a gradu- ate. He was admitted to the New Orleans bar and practised in that city, 1845-78. He was pro- fessor in the New Orleans law school, and took no active part in politics before the civil war. He was appointed by Governor Kellogg attorney- g(^neral of Louisiana in 1870, and was the Repub- lican candidate f„r that office the same year, wlien l)Oth par- i

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ties claimed the election. Presi- dent Hayes r'-- *■ ognized the \ lidity of t n a Democratic state 1"! governu'.ent, and /"^ _- —

Mr. Hunt remov-' >,..^.:.^:^^ -t~:i

ed to Washington, D.C., in 1878, where he was appointed judge of the court of claims by Presi- <lent Hayes. In Deceml)er, 1880, when Mr. Justice Strong retired from the U.S. supreme bench, the bar of Louisiana sent a u)ianimous recommendation to President Hayes to appoint Judge Hunt to the vacancy. When Garfield became President in 1881, he appointed Judge