Born in Sible Hedingham in Essex in 1805, Hilton was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford and in Boulogne (where he became fluent in French).

As Arris and Gale professor from 1859 to 1862 he delivered a course of lectures on "Rest and Pain," which have become classics.

It was he who, with Joseph Towne the artist, enriched Guy's Hospital with its unique collection of wax models.

His caution is remembered by the way he opened deeply seated abscesses with a probe and dressing forceps, which is still called Hilton's method.

However he could be bold when necessary; he was the first to reduce a case of obturator hernia by abdominal section, and one of the first to practise lumbar colostomy.