Hunter was born in
Sharon in the
Connecticut Colony to Rebecca Marvin and David Hunter. He was the register of
probate from 1798 until 1801, and judge of probate for the district of Windsor from 1801 until 1816. He also served as Justice of the Peace in Windsor. He was a
Presidential Elector for Vermont in 1804, and voted for the reelection of
Thomas Jefferson as president and new running mate
George Clinton as vice president. Hunter was an
assistant judge of the
Windsor County, Vermont court from 1805 until 1816, and was a member of the
Vermont Council of Censors in 1806 and 1820. He was a member of the Vermont Executive Council from 1810 until 1813 and in 1815. Hunter was elected as a
Democratic-Republican candidate to the
Fifteenth Congress, serving from March 4, 1817, until March 3, 1819.{{cite web|url=http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/william_hunter/405832| title= Rep. William Hunter ==Personal life==