Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hunter, Samuel
HUNTER, SAMUEL (1769–1839), editor of the 'Glasgow Herald,' born in 1769, was son of John Hunter (1716–1781), parish minister of Stoneykirk, Wigtownshire. Receiving his elementary education in his native place, he qualified as a surgeon at Glasgow University, and for a time, about the end of the century, practised his profession in Ireland. Somewhat later he acted as captain in the north lowland fencibles, and settled in Glasgow, where his geniality and strong common sense speedily made him popular. On 10 Jan. 1803 he was announced as part proprietor and conductor of the 'Glasgow Herald and Advertiser,' to which he largely devoted himself for the following thirty-four years. Soon afterwards, owing to the prevalent dread of a French invasion, he figured first as major in a corps of gentlemen sharpshooters, and secondly as colonel commandant of the fourth regiment of highland local militia. Entering the Glasgow town council, Hunter rose to be a magistrate, and was very successful and popular on the bench. In 1820 fresh military activity brought him forward as commander of a choice corps of gentlemen sharpshooters. From this time till 1837, when he retired from the 'Herald'—then a sheet of four pages, appearing bi-weekly—he was one of the most prominent of Glasgow citizens. After retiring he settled at Rothesay, and he died on 9 June 1839 when visiting his nephew, Archibald Blair Campbell, D.D., parish minister of Kilwinning, Ayrshire. He was buried in Kilwinning churchyard.
[Glasgow Herald, 14 June 1839; Irving's Eminent Scotsmen.]