According to Burke’s Landed Gentry for Scotland (2001), Sir John Hunter, of St. Lucar, is the third son of James Hunter of Crichton Dean and East Gordon, who held the dignity of Architect Royal for Scotland, and his wife Jean Nisbet. He is said to have been born on 13 February 1751.
There is a problem with this identification, however. The child who was born on 13 February 1751 was actually the third son and the youngest of the four children of James Hunter, Wright in Edinburgh, and his wife Jean Nisbet. His father is identified as: “James Hunter wright burgess of Edinburgh” in his last will and testament dated 9 May 1758, and it would appear, therefore, that he was not the heritable proprietor of Crichton Dean and East Gordon, or the Architect Royal for Scotland. Moreover, it seems quite likely, probable even, that the child who was born on 13 February 1751 predeceased his father, whose last will and testament made no financial provision for surviving children (as was required by Scots Law). It looks quite likely too, probable even, that John Hunter, the son of James Hunter and Jean Nisbet, was the child of the same name, aged five years, who was buried on 28 August 1756, at Edinburgh in Midlothian, Scotland.
There can be no doubt that Sir John Hunter, of St, Lucar, was Great Britain’s Consul-general at Lisbon during the Peninsula War, 1807-14, his last will and testament identifies him as “His Britannick Majesty’s Consul General in the Dominions of Spain” but who were his parents and when was he born?
Ink to baptismal record of John Hunter:
https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000188858440870
Link to the burial record of John Hunter:
https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000188858683823
Links to the last will and Testament of James Hunter:
https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000188657245894
https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000188657893844
https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000188657709841
https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000188657876826
If anyone has information which identifies or might help to identify the paternity of Sir John Hunter, of St, Lucar, it would be greatly appreciated if they would bring it forward to this discussion.