Martin was born on the 9th of July 1873, in northwestern Ireland known as County Mayo. He emigrated to the United States and enlisted in the Marine Corps in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1896 at the age of 23. Soon after, he was deployed to China in support of the Boxer Rebellion and it was his actions there that would earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

In the presence of the enemy during the battle of Peking, China, 20 June to 16 July 1900, Hunt distinguished himself by meritorious conduct.

Martin received his Medal of Honor on the 19th of July 1901, and he left the Marine Corps the following month. He spent the rest of his life in the Philippines and on the 22nd of July 1938, Martin Hunt died at the age of 65. He is buried in the Pasay City Cemetery in Pasay, Philippines.