Robert M. T. Hunter

Robert Hunter
President pro tempore of the Confederate States Senate
In office February 18, 1862 – May 10, 1865
Preceded by	Howell Cobb (President of the Provisional Congress)
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Confederate States Senator from Virginia
In office February 18, 1862 – May 10, 1865
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
2nd Confederate States Secretary of State
In office July 25, 1861 – February 18, 1862
President	Jefferson Davis
Preceded by	Robert Toombs
Succeeded by	William Browne (Acting)
United States Senator from Virginia
In office March 4, 1847 – March 28, 1861
Preceded by	William Archer
Succeeded by	John Carlile
14th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
In office December 16, 1839 [a] – March 4, 1841
Preceded by	James Polk
Succeeded by	John White
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 8th district
In office March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847
Preceded by	Willoughby Newton
Succeeded by	Richard L. T. Beale
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 9th district
In office March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1843
Preceded by	John Roane
Succeeded by	Samuel Chilton
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Essex County
In office December 1, 1834 – March 4, 1837
Preceded by	Richard Baylor
Succeeded by	George Lorimer
Personal details
Born	Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter (1809-04-21)April 21, 1809 Loretto, Virginia, U.S.
Died	July 18, 1887(1887-07-18) (aged 78) Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Whig (Before 1844) Democratic (1844–1887)
Spouse	Mary Dandridge
Education	University of Virginia (BA) Winchester Law School
Signature

Robert Mercer Taliaferro Hunter (April 21, 1809 – July 18, 1887) was an American lawyer, politician and planter.^[1] He was a U.S. representative (1837–1843, 1845–1847), speaker of the House (1839–1841), and U.S. senator (1847–1861). During the American Civil War, Hunter became the Confederate States Secretary of State (1861–1862) and then a Confederate senator (1862–1865) and critic of President Jefferson Davis. After the war, Hunter failed to win re-election to the U.S. Senate, but did serve as the treasurer of Virginia (1874–1880) before retiring to his farm. After fellow Democrat Grover Cleveland was elected President of the United States in 1884, Hunter became the customs collector for the port of Tappahannock until his death.

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