Born in Ston Easton, Somerset, he was the son of John Hippisley and Agnes Aleyn.
[2] John became a senior lawyer at the Middle Temple in London and was described by Dr Hubert Hall in his social study Society in the Elizabethan Age as "perhaps the most successful country practitioner of his time".
He made a contribution towards the cost of building the Middle Temple Hall, and the expressions of gratitude from the Masters of the Bench suggest that he gave a considerable sum.
John represented Wells as Member of Parliament between 1562 and 1566 after briefly serving as MP for Bridport and was also Recorder of Bristol – the City's senior Judge – from 1551 until his death.
In 1564 John obtained a coat of arms, and in 1570 he bought the manor of Emborough.