Frederick Knight Hunt was an English journalist and author, known for The Fourth Estate, a history of journalism.
Background
Hunt was born in Buckinghamshire, to a humble family background. At the time of his father"s death, around 1830, Hunt was a night-boy in a printer"s office. To support his family, he took on a day job as clerk to a barrister, who gave him an introduction to a morning newspaper.
Education
He also studied medicine, at the North London School of Medicine, and qualified as a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, in 1840.
Career
In 1839 Hunt founded the Medical Times, initially edited by Robert Knox. Hunt, however, made little from it, and had to sell, to T. P. Healey, in 1841. There were reasons concerning family and money troubles.
He then took a post as surgeon to a poor law union in Norfolk.
The Medical Times was incorporated in January 1852 with the Medical Gazette, and continued as the Medical Times and Gazette until 1885. After a year Hunt returned to London, continuing to practise medicine, and working briefly for the Anti-Corn Law League.
He also resumed his connection with the press He was successively sub-editor of the Illustrated London News, and editor of the Pictorial Times.
Hunt wrote for Household Words, edited by Charles Dickens, contributing in particular on anatomical exhibitions.
On the establishment of the Daily News in 1846, he was selected by Dickens as one of the assistant editors. In 1851 he was made chief editor, and under him the paper first became prosperous. Other recruits were Edwin Lawrence Godkin, sent to the Ottoman Empire, and Harriet Martineau as a leader writer, who became a prolific contributor.
Hunt died of typhus fever, 18 November 1854.
Views
Another motivation, however, for his exit was an embroilment in libel matters, after he defended John Elliotson in his paper.