Born in Minehead, Somerset to Major A. L. Hunt MC by his wife Daphne (née Ashton Case), he was educated at Downside School and Magdalene College, Cambridge before joining the Civil Service in 1946.

[1] Hunt became Cabinet Secretary from 1973 to 1979, being the first Roman Catholic to hold this post since its creation in 1916.

[3] Hunt was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 1968 Birthday Honours, promoted Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 1973 Birthday Honours and was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in the 1977 Birthday Honours.

[1] Hunt was created a Life Peer with the title Baron Hunt of Tanworth, of Stratford-upon-Avon in the County of Warwickshire on 8 February 1980,[4] Lord Hunt was also appointed Officier de la Légion d'honneur by President François Mitterrand and Knight Commander of the Order of Pius IX by Pope John Paul II.

His uncanny mastery of procedure and ability to steer meetings to the conclusion he wished made him a considerable source of inspiration for the character of Sir Humphrey Appleby on the television series Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.