Sir Rex Masterman Hunt, CMG (29 June 1926 – 11 November 2012) was a British Government diplomat and colonial administrator.

He was Governor, Commander-in-Chief, and Vice Admiral of the Falkland Islands (and concurrently High Commissioner of the British Antarctic Territory) between 1980 and September 1985.

[1] He received his formal education at Redcar's Coatham School, and at St Peter's College, Oxford, where he read Law.

[2] During World War II he joined the Royal Air Force as a cadet in 1941, and was enlisted as an airman in 1944, receiving a commission as a pilot in 1945.

[11] On 14 January 1980, as a final career posting, he was appointed as the Governor of the Falkland Islands and High Commissioner of the British Antarctic Territory.

[13] The UK's sovereignty of the Falkland Islands was contested by the Government of Argentina, and with a military dictatorship in place in Buenos Aires, this claim was being asserted with more intent than ever before.

Unbeknown to the British Government plans were underway to seize the Islands by force of arms, without a prior declaration of hostilities.

Hunt soon discovered that the Falkland Islanders were adamantly opposed to any ceding of their sovereignty in this direction, and he relayed this information back to London; arguing that on consideration of the matter he personally agreed with their views.

He then went to Stanley Town Hall, wearing his full dress uniform, complete with medals, gold braid, neck ribbons, sword, sash and plumed cocked hat to face the Argentine invasion force's Commandant, Vice admiral Carlos Büsser, addressing him with: "You have landed unlawfully on British territory, and I order you to remove yourself and your troops forthwith".

[22] On the announcement of his death by the British Government, Prime Minister David Cameron stated that Hunt "should be a hero to everyone in Britain for his actions during the Falkland War.