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Anthony Hunt (Royal Navy officer, died 1795)

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Anthony Hunt
Bornc.1734
Died1795
AllegianceGreat Britain
Service / branchRoyal Navy
Years of service1743–1795
RankCaptain
CommandsHMS Tamar
Governor of the Falkland Islands
HMS Ludlow Castle
HMS Sphinx
HMS Portland
HMS Digilent
Battles / wars

Captain Anthony Hunt (died 1795) was a Royal Navy officer.[1] He commanded the garrison on Sanders Island during a dispute over sovereignty of the remote territory with a Spanish schooner: events which precipitated the Capture of Port Egmont by the Spanish Empire and the Falklands Crisis of 1770.

Career

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On 28 November 1769, Hunt was the officer of the garrison on Sanders Island when he observed a Spanish schooner hovering about the island while surveying it. He sent the commander a message, by which he required of him to depart. An exchange of letters followed where each side asserted sovereignty and demanded the other depart. Hunt stated categorically that the Falkland Islands belonged to Britain and demanded that the Spanish leave. These events precipitated the Capture of Port Egmont and the Falklands Crisis of 1770.[2]

In 1780 Hunt commanded the Diligente sloop on the Home station. Midshipman Richard Poulden served under him.[3]

References

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  1. ^ David 2012.
  2. ^ Wagstaff 2001, p. 8.
  3. ^ O'Byrne 1849, p. 916.

Sources

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  • David, Andrew (2012). "Hunt, Anthony". Tatham, David (ed.). Dictionary of Falklands Biography (online ed.). Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  • O'Byrne, William R. (1849). "Poulden, Richard". A Naval Biographical Dictionary. London: John Murray. p. 917.
  • Wagstaff, William (2001). Falkland Islands: The Bradt Travel Guide. UK: Bradt Travel Guides Ltd.; USA: The Globe Pequot Press Inc. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-84162-037-4.
[edit]
  • Hiscocks, Richard (2018). "Anthony Hunt (1)". More than Nelson. Retrieved 16 February 2023. p. 8.