HENRY J. HUNT, LTJG, USN
Henry Hunt '75
Henry Jackson Hunt was admitted to the Naval Academy with an At Large appointment on June 23, 1870 at age 15 years 2 months.
Prior to the publication of the Lucky Bag in 1894, most portraits of officers and midshipmen of the Naval Academy were captured in yearly photo albums. The album for 1875 is available in the collections of the [{{{link}}} Naval Academy's Digital Collections].
Special thank you to historian Kathy Franz for identifying this resource and then extracting several dozen photographs for this site.
Prior to the publication of the Lucky Bag in 1894, most portraits of officers and midshipmen of the Naval Academy were captured in yearly photo albums. The album for 1875 is available in the collections of the [{{{link}}} Naval Academy's Digital Collections].
Special thank you to historian Kathy Franz for identifying this resource and then extracting several dozen photographs for this site.
Loss
Harry died of "consumption" on April 10, 1855 in Washington, D.C.
He is buried in Washington, D.C..
Obituary
From records of the US Naval Academy Graduates’ Association:
HENRY JACKSON HUNT, Graduate No, 1212.
1870, June 23, appointed a Cadet Midshipman, at large, at the Naval Academy. 1875, June 21, graduated, Midshipman. August 13, ordered to the Swatara, North Atlantic Squadron. 1876, August 30, promoted to the grade of Ensign. 1877, August 18, detached from the Swatara and placed on waiting orders, 1878, February 25, ordered to the training ship Minnesota. April 25, detached and ordered to the Enterprise, Brazil and European Squadron. 1880, May 17, detached and placed on waiting orders. September 8 ordered to the receiving ship Passaic. 1881, January 13, detached and ordered to the Hydrographic Office. April 18, detached and ordered to the Mary and Helen, afterwards the Rodgers. 1882, April 13, detached from Jeannette search expedition and waiting orders, 1883, March 11, promoted to the grade of Lieutenant (J. G.). October 8, ordered to Ordnance duty at the Washington Navy Yard. 1884, April 22, detached and ordered to the Greeley relief steamer Alert. August 15, detached and placed on waiting orders. Died at the Soldiers’ Home, near Washington, May 5, 1886.
Sea service, 7 years, 2 months; shore duty, 5 years, 5 months; unemployed, 3 years, 3 months; in service, 15 years, 10 months.
Henry J. Hunt was born, April 10, 1855, at Fort Washita, Indian Territory. He was a son of Major-General Henry J. Hunt, U.S. Army. He was a resident of Rhode Island, though appointed to the Naval Academy “at large.”
Lieutenant Hunt’s life was a very active one, and his employments indicate the esteem which his services commanded. Twice selected for special duty in Arctic regions, he justified the confidence which was placed in his skill, his judgment, and his fortitude. Soon after the burning of the Rodgers, in November, 1881, Hunt started from St. Lawrence Bay, in company with Lieutenant Berry, and searched the coast of Siberia to the westward as far as the Yana river for the Jeannette< party. Learning that the bodies of DeLong and some of his companions had been found, and meeting at Yakutsk Lieutenant Harber, who was about to proceed in search of Lieutenant Chipp and party, he volunteered to return north and assist in the search. He assisted also in bringing the bodies of DeLong and his party from the Lena Delta to the United States. On his return to Washington, in April, 1882, he was detached from the Jeannette search expedition. Two years later he joined the Greeley relief steamer Alert, and, while serving in that Arctic expedition, he contracted a disease of the throat which ultimately proved fatal. He was a man of large frame and physical vigor, of fine appearance and bearing. His many friends proudly anticipated for him length of days, usefulness, and honors. An extended life and service was not, alas! granted to him; but he died in the path of duty, but lately borne from a field of noble devotion; and honor guards his name.
Mr. Hunt was married to a daughter of Adjutant-General R. C. Drum, U. S. Army, who, with two sons, survive him. P.F. Harrington
Career
From the Naval History and Heritage Command:
Midshipman, 23 June, 1870. Graduated 21 June, 1875. Ensign, 30 September, 1876. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, 11 March, 1883. Died 5 May, 1886.
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