He was educated in the rudiments of Latin by his mother, Anne, daughter of Sir John Bingley of Temple Combe, Somerset, and was later sent to Westminster School under Richard Busby.

Hoskyns was called to the bar at the Middle Temple, and although he may have practised, acquired a reputation as a lawyer, and was made a master in chancery bench.

In 1680 he succeeded his father in the baronetcy (having been knighted previously), and five years later was chosen Member of Parliament for Herefordshire; but was not active in politics.

[1] Hoskyns was elected President of the Royal Society in 1682, in succession to his friend Sir Christopher Wren.

[1] Hoskyns married Jane, daughter of Sir Gabriel Low, and his two sons, Bennet and Hungerford (d. 1766), were third and fourth baronets successively.