William Hunter Jr. was born on 20 January 1731 in Galston, Scotland. He would settle in Alexandria, Virginia, where he worked as a merchant and founded the local branch of the St. Andrew's Society charity. Hunter also served two terms as mayor (1787–88, 1790–91) and was a member of George Washington's Masonic lodge. He died in Alexandria on 19 November 1792, survived by his wife Christiana Arell (c. 1756–1809) and their son.