Educated at Rugby School from 1788,[2] Hill was appointed a cornet in the 6th Dragoons on 29 July 1795. Promotion to lieutenant followed on 26 August 1796 and to captain on 15 June 1804. He then transferred as a major to the Royal Horse Guards (Blues) on 15 November 1805 and received his brevet promotion to lieutenant-colonel on 1 January 1819.
He commanded the Blues during the Peninsular War and led a brigade of cavalry at the 1813 Battle of Vitoria, for which he received the Army Gold Medal. At Waterloo, Hill, while a commander of the Royal Horse Guards, was wounded when a musket ball entered his right shoulder and passed through his arm.[4] Despite the injury, Hill remained on the battlefield until close to the completion of the action.[5]
For his services in the battle he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB), a Knight of the Russian Order of St. George of the Fourth Class,[7] and a Knight of the Austrian Order of Maria Theresa.[8]
He was knighted by the Prince Regent on 29 May 1812 as a proxy for his brother, Rowland, who was already a Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath.[9]
Hill later became Deputy Lieutenant of Shropshire, a magistrate for the Wem and Whitchurch divisions,[4] and a Commissioner of Income and Property Taxes for the latter.[10]
