Anthony Hunt

Captain Anthony Hunt (died 1795) was a Royal Navy officer. He commanded the garrison on Sanders Island during a dispute over sovereignty of the remote territory with a Spanish schooner: events which precipitated the Capture of Port Egmont by the Spanish Empire and the Falklands Crisis of 1770.

Career On 28 November 1769, Hunt was the officer of the garrison on Sanders Island when he observed a Spanish schooner hovering about the island while surveying it. He sent the commander a message, by which he required of him to depart. An exchange of letters followed where each side asserted sovereignty and demanded the other depart. Hunt stated categorically that the Falkland Islands belonged to Britain and demanded that the Spanish leave. These events precipitated the Capture of Port Egmont and the Falklands Crisis of 1770.

In 1780 Hunt commanded the Diligente sloop on the Home station. Midshipman Richard Poulden served under him.