George Lunt
United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts
In office 1849–1853
Preceded by	Robert Rantoul Jr.
Succeeded by	Benjamin F. Hallett
Member of theMassachusetts Senate
Member of theMassachusetts House of Representatives
Personal details
Born	December 31, 1803 Newburyport, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	May 17, 1885(1885-05-17) (aged 81) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Party	Whig (until 1856) Democratic (after 1856)
Education	Phillips Exeter Academy
Alma mater	Harvard College
Signature

George Lunt (December 31, 1803 – May 17, 1885) was an Americaneditor, lawyer, author, and politician. George's ancestor, Henry Lunt, was one of the original settlers ofNewbury (1635). His grandfather's exploits withJohn Paul Jones were chronicled byJames Fenimore Cooper.^[1]

George Lunt was born inNewburyport, Massachusetts on December 31, 1803. He attendedPhillips Exeter Academy.^[2] He was graduated atHarvard College in 1824, with special distinction in Greek, studied law, and began practice in Newburyport in 1827.

In earlier life, Mr. Lunt was an active member of theWhig party, and in its interests was distinguished as a public speaker. On the dissolution of that party he became aDemocrat.He was elected successively representative for Newburyport and senator fromEssex County in the legislature, was an active member of the convention that nominated GeneralZachary Taylor for the presidency, and was appointedUnited States District Attorney for Massachusetts under Taylor's administration. He eventually resumed the private practice of his profession, devoting his leisure to literary pursuits. When the Whigs dissolved, he joined the Democrats.^[2]

Prior to and during theCivil War he was editor of theBoston Courier in conjunction withGeorge S. Hillard. He opposed policies which would estrange the South and defended slavery.^[2] When he returned to the practice of his profession, he appeared frequently in the state courts, and was counsel beforecongressional committees in reference to French claims, preparing a bill and efficiently pressing it for the action of congress. Mr. Lunt's later years were marked by labors in behalf of harbors of refuge, notably atScituate, Massachusetts, on the south shore of Boston bay. By persevering effort he succeeded in securing very considerable appropriations from congress to this end. He was a man of firm convictions in both political and religious matters, and fearless and manly in their expression. As a writer his style was marked by strength, dignity, and grace.^[3]

Lunt died in Boston on May 17, 1885.

• "Poems" (New York, 1839)
• The Age of Gold (Boston, 1843)
• The Dove and the Eagle (1851)
• Lyric Poems (1854)
• Julia (1855)
• Eastford, or Household Sketches (1855)
• Lunt, George (1857).Three Eras of New England. Ticknor and Fields.George Lunt.
• "Radicalism in Religion, Philosophy, and Social Life" (1858)
• The Union, a Poem (1860)
• Lunt, George (1863).Review of McClellan's campaigns: as commander of the Army of the Potomac. Press of the Daily courier.George Lunt.
• Origin of the Late War (New York, 1866)
• Old New England Traits. Hurd and Houghton. 1873.George Lunt.
• Poems (1884).

• Wilson, J. G.;Fiske, J., eds. (1900)."Lunt, George" .Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton.

• Works by or aboutGeorge Lunt atWikisource
• Works by George Lunt atProject Gutenberg
• Works by or about George Lunt at theInternet Archive
• In 1879 Henry Tucker wrote the song, "Mabel " using the lyrics from Mr. Lunt's poemAt the Gate.

• 1803 births
• 1885 deaths
• 19th-century American male writers
• 19th-century American poets
• American editors
• American male poets
• Harvard College alumni
• Members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
• Massachusetts state senators
• Politicians from Newburyport, Massachusetts
• Writers from Newburyport, Massachusetts
• United States attorneys for the District of Massachusetts
• 19th-century American lawyers
• 19th-century members of the Massachusetts General Court

• CS1: long volume value
• Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the Dictionary of American Biography
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from Appleton's Cyclopedia
• Articles with Project Gutenberg links
• Articles with Internet Archive links