William Hunter (Asst. Sec. of State)
Encyclopedia
William Hunter, Jr. was a politician and diplomat from Rhode Island
. He was a confidential clerk to Secretary of State
John Clayton
in the United States Department of State
from 1849 to 1850, serving with George P. Fisher
. He had served as acting Secretary of State
on three occasions, once in 1853, again in 1860, and to temporarily substitute for Secretary William H. Seward
after his wounding in an attack concurrent with the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. He also served as Chief Clerk of the State Department
from 1852 to 1855, Assistant Secretary of State
in 1855 and Second Assistant Secretary of State from 1866 until his death in 1886.
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. He was a confidential clerk to Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
John Clayton
John M. Clayton
John Middleton Clayton was an American lawyer and politician from Delaware. He was a member of the Whig Party who served in the Delaware General Assembly, and as U.S. Senator from Delaware and U.S. Secretary of State....
in the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
from 1849 to 1850, serving with George P. Fisher
George P. Fisher
George Purnell Fisher was an American lawyer and politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party and later the Republican Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly, as Attorney General of Delaware, as Secretary of State of Delaware, as...
. He had served as acting Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
on three occasions, once in 1853, again in 1860, and to temporarily substitute for Secretary William H. Seward
William H. Seward
William Henry Seward, Sr. was the 12th Governor of New York, United States Senator and the United States Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson...
after his wounding in an attack concurrent with the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. He also served as Chief Clerk of the State Department
Chief Clerk
The Chief Clerk, between 1789 and 1853, was the second-ranking official within the United States Department of State, known as the Department of Foreign Affairs before September 5, 1789. Section 2 of the Act of Congress of July 27, 1789 The Chief Clerk, between 1789 and 1853, was the second-ranking...
from 1852 to 1855, Assistant Secretary of State
United States Assistant Secretary of State
In modern times, Assistant Secretary of State is a title used for many executive positions in the United States State Department. A set of six Assistant Secretaries reporting to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs manage diplomatic missions within their designated geographic regions, plus one...
in 1855 and Second Assistant Secretary of State from 1866 until his death in 1886.