John Hildrop (30 December 1682 – 18 January 1756) was an English cleric, known as a religious writer and essayist.
[2] On 14 April 1703 Hildrop was presented to the mastership of the Marlborough Royal Free Grammar School by Thomas Bruce, 2nd Earl of Ailesbury; he was also rector of Maulden, Bedfordshire.
On 13 April 1734 he was instituted to the rectory of Wath-juxta-Ripon on the presentation of Charles, Lord Bruce, whose chaplain he was.
The book strongly criticized and rejected the view held by French Jesuit Guillaume-Hyacinthe Bougeant that animals have no reason, moral status or souls.
[3][4] Under the pseudonyms "Phileleutherus Britannicus" and "Timothy Hooker", and anonymously, Hildrop published satirical essays, mainly directed against the Deists.