He was the sixth son of Henry Hawkins of Lawrence End, parish of Kimpton, Hertfordshire, and major in the East India Company's service, by Anne, only child of John Gurney of Bedford, a merchant.
In the following year he became assistant preacher at Lincoln's Inn, in 1845 he became a prebendary [2] of St Paul's Cathedral, and in 1850 minister of Curzon Chapel, Mayfair.
Among his close friends were Francis Fulford, John Medley, bishop of Fredericton; and Edward Feild.
Hawkins died at 20 Dean's Yard, Westminster, on 5 October 1868, and was buried in the cloisters of the abbey on 12 Oct.
He had married, 20 July 1852, Sophia Anna, daughter of John Henry George Lefroy, rector of Ashe, Hampshire.