He was born on 22 February 1856 in Berhampore, Bengal, India, the son of Revd.
Samuel John Hill (1825–1881) and Leonora Josephina Muller (1833–1917).
In 1880–1884 he was a professor of mathematics at Mason College (which later became Birmingham University).
From 1884 to 1907 he was Professor of Pure Mathematics at University College, London and from 1907 to 1923 Astor Professor of Mathematics, University of London.
[4] He married Minnie Grace Tarbotton, daughter of Marriott Ogle Tarbotton at St Saviour's Church, Paddington on 21 December 1892.