The son of the Rev Isaac Hurst, of Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire, and grandson of the Rev Robert H Hurst, at one time Incumbent of Newton Blossomville, Buckingham. He went to Christ's Hospital, and was then apprenticed to Charles Short, of Bedford. He next entered Guy's and St Thomas's Hospitals and attracted the favourable notice of Sir Astley Cooper, who set him to work on anatomical preparations and took him to see interesting private cases. Sir Astley Cooper gave him a flattering testimonial in July, 1823, when Hurst became Assistant to Dr Andrews, of Watford. After that he was Assistant to, and then in partnership with, his former master, Short, at Bedford. He succeeded him as Surgeon to the infirmary until 1855, when he was appointed Consulting Surgeon. On Short's death he was joined by Short's nephew, Robert Couchman. His high professional and moral character is particularly emphasized by his biographer. He was a most friendly colleague and was greatly beloved. About a year and a half before his death he began to suffer from 'ramollissement', 'softening of the brain', had three severe convulsive attacks and died on April 9th, 1865, at the house of his brother George, Mayor of Bedford. Absolutely honest, he often acted as a mediator between a dissatisfied patient and his doctor, and on such occasions he would say, "My good sir, I would rather give you a dozen of my patients, if I could, than take one of yours."