Researching John Hunter

He learned anatomy by assisting his elder brother William with dissections in William's anatomy school in Central London, starting in 1748, and quickly became an expert in anatomy. He spent some years as an Army surgeon, worked with the dentist James Spence conducting tooth transplants, and in 1764 set up his own anatomy school in London. He built up a collection of living animals whose skeletons and other organs he prepared as anatomical specimens, eventually amassing nearly 14,000 preparations demonstrating the anatomy of humans and other vertebrates, including 3,000+ animals.

Hunter became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1767. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1787. The Hunterian Society of London was named in his honour, and the Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons preserves his name and his collection of anatomical specimens. It still contains the illegally procured body of Charles Byrne, despite ongoing protests.

Both a sailor and a scholar, he explored the Parramatta River as early as 1788, and was the first to surmise that Tasmania might be an island. As governor, he tried to combat serious abuses by the military in the face of powerful local interests led by John MacArthur. Hunter's name is commemorated in historic locations such as Hunter Valley and Hunter Street, Sydney.

Hunter was born in 1943 in Christchurch, New Zealand. At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich he teamed with Dick Joyce, Wybo Veldman, Tony Hurt, Lindsay Wilson, Joe Earl, Trevor Coker and Gary Robertson and Simon Dickie (cox) to win the gold medal in the eights. Hunter had previously been a member of the eight which finished fourth at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He was also the Rowing Manager for the New Zealand team at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Hunter was later an engineering consultant in Christchurch. He was employed by the New Zealand Ministry of Works and was involved in the expansion of Christchurch International Airport. As a rowing coach, he managed many teams including some of the teams at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Hunter studied at the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall Law School to become a barrister and lawyer.

He was a candidate in a federal by-election at the Parkdale riding on 21 October 1946, but was unsuccessful. He unseated Harold Timmins at the 1949 general election. Hunter was re-elected in 1953, but was defeated in the 1957 election by Arthur Maloney of the Progressive Conservative party. Hunter was again unsuccessful in 1958. He died at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto in 1993.

Hunter began his career while still a Trinity student, as a screenwriter for Smashing Through (1929) and an actor in Varsity (1930, as J. Evans Hunter). After graduating with Third Class Honors he began a successful career as a screenwriter, most notably with Hammer Film Productions. He is best known for 1955's BAFTA nominated Carrington V.C. (film), starring David Niven and Noelle Middleton, and the controversial 1960 Never Take Sweets from a Stranger. Although he married after leaving university, Hunter was Guy Burgess's lover while they were both students at Cambridge. Subsequently divorced, his longtime partner, Michael Ronan, had served time in a British jail for his sexuality. Hunter died in London in 1984.

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland to James Hunter, he married Margaret Congalton in 1787, daughter of Dr. Charles Congalton. Upon her death in 1791, Hunter married Dame Elizabeth Barbara Arbuthnot in 1793, daughter of Robert Keith Arbuthnot FRSE (1728-1803) of Haddo Rattray, and sister of Sir William Arbuthnot, 1st Baronet of Edinburgh FRSE.

He was knighted by the Prince Regent on 10 December 1813.

He is the father, through his first marriage, of Margaret Congalton Hunter, spouse of Captain Basil Hall.

Dunn Hunter claimed to be ignorant of his birthplace and that he was taken prisoner with two other white children by Native Americans who either belonged to or were associated with the Kickapoo nation. Dunn Hunter lived with the Kickapoo until 1816 but he traveled widely during that time and received a good education, meeting Robert Owen and John Neal in England. Not knowing his real name, Dunn Hunter took on the name of an English benefactor, one John Dunn. The "hunter" was later added due to his abilities in that field.

Dunn Hunter arrived in Texas in 1825 and in December he was sent by Richard Fields to Mexico with the aim of negotiating for a Cherokee settlement in Texas. Dunn Hunter arrived in Mexico City on March 19, 1826 but regretfully returned to Texas April 1826 with news of his failure.

Dunn Hunter and Fields then opened negotiations with Martin Parmer which culminated in the Fredonian Rebellion. The Cherokee repudiated the rebellion and ultimately it was decided that Fields and Hunter should be put to death. Dunn Hunter escaped but a Mexican militia headed by Peter Ellis Bean was tasked with tracking him down. Dunn Hunter was caught and executed in early February 1827.