William Hunter (Asst. Sec. of State)

For the other Rhode Island politician see William Hunter (Senator).

William Hunter, Jr. (1805–1886) was a politician and diplomat from Rhode Island. He was a confidential clerk to Secretary of State John Clayton in the United States Department of State from 1849 to 1850, serving with George P. Fisher. He had served as acting Secretary of State on two occasions, once in 1853 and again in 1860, and served as Chief Clerk of the State Department from 1852 to 1855, Assistant Secretary of State in 1855 and Second Assistant Secretary of State from 1866 until his death in 1886.

Preceded by William S. Derrick	Chief Clerk of the United States State Department May 17, 1852 – May 7, 1855	Succeeded by (none)
Preceded by Ambrose Dudley Mann	United States Assistant Secretary of State May 9, 1855 – October 31, 1855	Succeeded by John Addison Thomas
Preceded by (none)	United States Second Assistant Secretary of State July 27, 1866 – July 22, 1886	Succeeded by Alvey A. Adee