William Henry Hunt
William Henry Hunt (12 June, 1823 – 27 February, 1884) served as the twenty-ninth Secretary of the Navy from 1881 to 1882.
Life & Career
Hunt was born in Charleston, South Carolina on 12 June, 1823. After studying law at Yale, he finished his professional training in his brothers' office in New Orleans, where he was admitted to the Bar in 1844. Hunt opposed secession and favored the Union cause. He was nevertheless drafted into the Confederate Army and commissioned as a Lieutenant Colonel. However, he managed to avoid involvement in military operations until Admiral Farragut captured New Orleans.
In March 1876, Hunt was appointed Attorney-General of Louisiana, and in July of that year he was the Republican candidate for this office. Both parties claimed victory in the election, but Hunt lost the position when President Hayes recognized the Democratic government of the State. As compensation, the President appointed him Associate Judge of the United States Court of Claims, 15 May 1878. He served in this capacity until was appointed President James A. Garfield's Secretary of the Navy in 1881.
Although in office just under a year and in the words of one historian being "ill and having difficulty carrying out his duties as secretary",[1] the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships states taht Hunt "rendered invaluable service by reporting that the Navy, grossly neglected after the Civil War, was no longer able to protect Americans abroad."[2] In addition, he appointed the first Naval Advisory Board, which undertook the work of rebuilding a Navy emasculated by public apathy and lack of funds.
When President Garfield was assassinated, former Vice President Chester A. Arthur retired Hunt from the cabinet by appointing him Minister to Russia on 7 April, 1882. Hunt died on 27 February, 1884 while representing the United States at Saint Petersburg.
The Navy named Destroyer No. 194 in his honor.
See Also
Bibliography
- Rentfrow, James C. (2014). Home Squadron: The U.S. Navy on the North Atlantic Station. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press.
Papers
- Correspondence in the possession of the United States Library of Congress
- Family papers in the possession of the United States Library of Congress
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Nathan Goff, Jr. |
Secretary of the Navy 7 Mar, 1881 – 16 Apr, 1882 |
Succeeded by William E. Chandler |
Footnotes
