Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hunter, George Orby
HUNTER, GEORGE ORBY (1773? –1843), translator of Byron into French, was probably the English officer of the name who was appointed ensign in the old 100th foot in 1783, promoted lieutenant in the 7th royal fusiliers in 1785, and after holding the adjutancy of the latter corps for a few years, sold out of the army in February 1790. The name does not occur in either the English or Indian army lists from 1790 to 1843. The register of deaths at Dieppe shows that `Georges Orby Hunter, colonel of English infantry, of the supposed age of 70, parentage and wife unknown, and having his domicile at No. 6 Grande Rue, Dieppe, died there on 26 April 1843.' Hunter was engaged on a translation of Byron's works into French. He completed `The Giaour,' `Bride of Abydos,' 'Cain,' and the first 186 stanzas of `Don Juan.' The work was finished by M. Pascal Ramé, and was published, in three vols. 8vo, at Paris in 1845.
[Army Lists; Registre des Actes de Décès de la Ville de Dieppe at the Mairie of Dieppe; Œuvres de Byron, traduites de Orby Hunter et Pascal Ramé (Paris, 1845), preface. For incidental notices of the family of Orby Hunter, of Crowland, Lincolnshire, see Hunter, Robert, major-general; also Manning and Bray's Surrey, iii. 231; Gent. Mag. 1769 p. 511, 1791 pt. ii. p. 969; Hist. MSS. Comm. 8th Rep. i. 290-4.]