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Robert M. T. Hunter

Robert Hunter
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President pro tempore of the Confederate States Senate
In office
February 18, 1862 – May 10, 1865
Preceded by Howell Cobb (President of the Provisional Congress)
Succeeded by Position abolished
Confederate States Senator
from Virginia
In office
February 18, 1862 – May 10, 1865
Preceded by Constituency established
Succeeded by Constituency abolished
2nd Confederate States Secretary of State
In office
July 25, 1861 – February 18, 1862
President Jefferson Davis
Preceded by Robert Toombs
Succeeded by William Browne (Acting)
United States Senator
from Virginia
In office
March 4, 1847 – March 28, 1861
Preceded by William Archer
Succeeded by John Carlile
14th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
In office
December 16, 1839 – March 4, 1841
President Martin Van Buren
William Henry Harrison
Preceded by James Polk
Succeeded by John White
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 8th district
In office
March 4, 1845 – March 4, 1847
Preceded by Willoughby Newton
Succeeded by Richard Beale
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 9th district
In office
March 4, 1837 – March 4, 1843
Preceded by John Roane
Succeeded by Samuel Chilton
Member of the Virginia House of Representatives
In office
1835–1837
Personal details
Born Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter
(1809-04-21)April 21, 1809
Loretto, Virginia, U.S.
Died July 18, 1887(1887-07-18) (aged 78)
Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
Political party Whig (Before 1844)
Democratic (1844–1887)
Spouse(s) Mary Evelina Dandridge
Alma mater University of Virginia
Winchester Law School

Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter (April 21, 1809 – July 18, 1887) was a Virginian lawyer and politician. He was a U.S. Representative (1837–1843, 1845–1847), Speaker of the House (1839–1841), and U.S. Senator (1847–1861). During the American Civil War he was Confederate States Secretary of State (1861–1862) and then a Confederate Senator (1862–1865). After the war, he served as Treasurer of Virginia (1874–80), and customs collector in 1885 until his death.

Hunter was born in Loretto, Essex County, Virginia, the son of James Hunter and Maria (Garnett) Hunter. He was a maternal first cousin of both Robert S. Garnett and Richard B. Garnett. He entered the University of Virginia in his seventeenth year and was one of its first graduates. While he was a student, he became a member of the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society. He then studied law at the Winchester Law School, and in 1830 was admitted to the bar. From 1835 to 1837 he was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.

In 1837, Hunter was elected U.S. Representative as a States Rights Whig. He was re-elected in 1839, and became Speaker of the United States House of Representatives – the youngest person ever to hold that office. He was re-elected again in 1841, but was not chosen Speaker. In 1843 he was defeated for re-election.


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