Hunter, John (1737-1821), was the second governor of New South Wales, Australia. He held the position from 1795 to 1800. Arthur Phillip, the first governor, left the colony in 1792. From 1792 to 1795, successive commanders of the New South Wales Corps acted as lieutenant governors. They allowed their officers to become large landowners and to monopolize trading in the colony. The British government commissioned Hunter to restore discipline. He soon came into conflict with the officers of the corps. Despite his efforts, private landholding, the assigning of convicts as servants, and trading in rum continued.
Hunter was born in Leith, Scotland, on Aug. 29, 1737. He became a lieutenant in the British navy in 1780. In 1788, he was appointed captain of H.M.S. Sirius. He became a vice admiral in 1810. He died in London on March 13, 1821.
