Hill was born in St Andrews, Fife on 19 July 1785,[2] one of eleven children of Harriet Scott and Rev George Hill, Principal of the University of St Andrews.

In September 1806, he was licensed to preach as a Church of Scotland minister by the Presbytery of St Andrews.

[3] He spent nine years travelling in England and Europe, taking various tutoring jobs.

In July 1815 he was ordained as minister of Colmonell translating to Dailly in 1816 (both in South Ayrshire).

In 1840 he was proposed as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland but was beaten by Angus Makellar.