Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Lunt, George

LUNT, George, author, b. in Newburyport, Mass., 31 Dec., 1803; d. in Boston, 17 May, 1885. He was graduated at Harvard in 1824 with special distinction in Greek, studied law, and began practice in Newburyport in 1827. He was elected successively representative for Newburyport and senator from Essex county in the legislature, was an active member of the convention that nominated Gen. Zachary Taylor for the presidency, and was appointed U. S. district attorney under Taylor's administration. He eventually resumed the private practice of his profession, devoting his leisure to literary pursuits. Prior to and during the civil war he was editor of the Boston “Courier” in conjunction with George S. Hillard. Again returning to the practice of his profession, he appeared frequently in the state courts, and was counsel before congressional 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 at Scituate, on the south shore of Boston bay. By persevering effort he succeeded in securing very considerable appropriations from congress to this end, and the harbor at Scituate will, when completed, be a fitting monument to his intelligence, energy, and zeal. In earlier life Mr. Lunt was an active member of the Whig party, and in its interests was distinguished as a public speaker. On the dissolution of that party he became a Democrat. 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. Besides orations and addresses, he published “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); “Three Eras of New England” (1857); “Radicalism in Religion, Philosophy, and Social Life” (1858); “The Union, a Poem ” (1800); “Origin of the Late War” (New York, 1866); “Old New England Traits” (1873); and “Miscellanies, Poems, etc.” (1884).