Hunter, William, 1755-1812 (Surgeon, East India Company; Orientalist)
Dates
- Existence: 1755 - 1812
Biography
William Hunter (1755-1812), was born at Montrose, Forfarshire. He was educated at Marischal College, Aberdeen (MA, 1777; MD, 1808). In 1781 he arrived in India and began working for the East India Company, becoming an assistant surgeon in Bengal in 1783. For some time he was surgeon to the British residency at Agra and later became surgeon at the general hospital of Bengal. When in 1811 the British conquered Java from the Dutch, he was appointed superintendent-surgeon there, but he died there the following year. Hunter was a prominant orientalist, writing several articles for the Asiatic Researches. He acted twice as secretary to the Asiatic Society of Bengal, and in 1801 was appointed regular examiner in Persian and Hindustani at Fort William College. In 1805 he became secretary of the College, a post which he retained until 1811. (ODNB)