A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hunter, Robert
HUNTER. (Lieut., 1811. f-p., 23; h-p., 31.)
Robert Hunter, born 2 Dec. 1779, is a relative of the late Admiral W. Hunter.
This officer entered the Navy, in 1793, as a Boy, on board the {sc|Santa Margarita}} 36, Capt. Elias Harvey, and in 1794 assisted at the reduction of the French West India Islands. Being discharged from the service in 1795, at which period he was employed in the Mediterranean in the Saturn 74, Capt. Jas. Douglas, he re-entered it, in April, 1802, as A.B. on board the Venus 32, Capts. Thos. Graves and Henry Matson. After an attachment of twelve months to the Nimrod sloop, Capts. Orde and Bennett, he removed, in Sept. 1805, to the Unicorn 32, Capts. Lucius Ferdinand Hardyman and Alex. Robt. Kerr, in which frigate he continued for four years, and was employed on shore during that period in the operations against Buenos Ayres and Monte Video, besides witnessing Lord Cochrane’s destruction of the French shipping in Basque Roads. On rejoining Capt. Hardyman, on board the Armide 38, he was frequently sent in the boats to cooperate with the patriots on the coast of Spain,where in effecting on one occasion the capture of several chasse-marées, he received a severe splinter-wound in the breast, and by extreme exertion brought on a violent hemorrhage, with which he has ever since been periodically affected. He was next transferred, for short periods, to the St. Domingo and Milford 74’s, flag-ships in the Downs and off Cadiz of Sir Rich. Strachan and Sir Rich. Goodwin Keats; and from Dec. 1810 until confirmed, 26 Sept. 1811, we find him discharging the duties of Acting-Lieutenant on board the Thunder bomb, Capt. Watkin Owen Pell, and the Milford and Hibernia, bearing each the flag of Sir R. G. Keats. He continued in the latter ship under Sir Wm. Sidney Smith until Oct. 1812; after which he served, from Feb. 1813 to Feb. 1814, on board the Resistance 36, Capt. Fleetwood Broughton Reynolds Pellew, and from July, 1830, until April, 1839, in the Coast Blockade and Coast Guard – the latter of which services he left from ill health. He has since been unemployed.
Being at Paris when Buonaparte arrived there from Elba in 1815, Lieut. Hunter brought to England the despatches communicating that event. He was then repeatedly charged by Mr. Hamilton, one of the Under Secretaries of State, with the conveyance of despatches to and from France; which service he continued to perform in a private vessel, at a period when no other British ship would venture, until the said vessel was at last detained at Havre, whence she was only liberated after the battle of Waterloo. For the loss he thus incurred, Lieut. Hunter declined receiving any compensation from the Admiralty other than his mere expenses, in order that he might thereby establish a claim (which has never been met) to future consideration. He married, in 1810, Miss Caroline Burton, and by that lady has issue four children. Agents – Messrs. Chard.