Robert Woolston Hunt (December 9, 1838 – July 11, 1923) was an American metallurgical engineer, inventor, and superintendent in the steel industry.

However, health issues led to him leaving his practice and moving with his family to Covington, Kentucky, where he ran a pharmacy store.

[2] With his health failing, in 1857 Robert W. Hunt had to sell the pharmacy business and then travel to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, to recuperate.

He became employed at the John Burnish & Company, an iron rolling mill in Pottsville,[2] where his cousin T. W. Yardley was a senior partner.

[4] Since the construction of this factory was not completed until July 1871,[7] Cambria placed Hunt in charge of the process of rolling steel ingots into rail tracks for use by the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Once the Cambria Bessemer plant was put into operation, Hunt, along with John E. Fry and Alexander L. Holley introduced a new bottom casting method for which the three received a patent.

[4] Hunt remained with the Cambria Co. until September, 1873,[7] when he became superintendent of the Bessemer works of John A. Griswald & Company in Troy, New York.