Cornthwaite John Hector (6 May 1835 – 6 January 1898) was the founder of Melbourne, Florida, and its first postmaster.

Cornthwaite John Hector was born 6 May 1835, in Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania), though his application to start a post office lists his birthplace as Liverpool, England.

[1] He became notable for his "gallant conduct" at that battle for "bringing up ammunition from the stockade during the heaviest fire", according to a newspaper report of the time.

Hector's mother, Elizabeth, died at Victoria Street, Surry Hills, Sydney, New South Wales, on Wednesday 22 September 1847, aged 42.

[1] Hector died at Crescent City, Florida, on 6 January 1898,[1] and was buried at the Melbourne Cemetery.