Hutton was born 26 July 1797 in Sunderland, the son of a colliery viewer,[1] but was settled in Newcastle-on-Tyne by 1827.
He soon acquired a reputation as a practical geologist, an authority upon the coal measures, and an ardent collector of coal-fossils.
He was a fellow of the Geological Society of London, and contributed papers to its Transactions in 1846, Hutton settled at Malta, but returned to Newcastle in 1857, and then West Hartlepool, where he died 20 Nov. 1860.
His portrait, by Carrick, is in the possession of the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers at Newcastle-on-Tyne.
After his death Professor G. A. Lebour edited from his papers and from those of Dr. Lindley 'Illustrations of Fossil Plants,' London, 1877; this was published for the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers, and contained a reproduction of Carrick's portrait of Hutton.