| History | Edward Hill was born in 1741 in county Tipperary. He entered Trinity College Dublin in 1761, graduating MB (1771) and MD (1773). An active member of the King and Queen's College of Physicians of Ireland, he served as President, Censor, Treasurer, Registrar and Librarian. He was professor of Botany at Trinity College Dublin (1785-1800) and regis professor of physic (1781-1830).
Hill was involved in a major controversy which spilt the College of Physicians, he wanted money from the Dun's estate to fund a herb garden, whereas others, led by Robert Percerval, wanted the money to go to a clinical teaching hospital, when the 1800 School of Physic Act provided funds for the hospital, but not the garden, Hill deeply resented the decision and took a case against TCD to recover money he had expended on the proposed garden. In 1811 he surveyed the Dun's estate lands in county Waterford and presented a detailed report to the College of Physicians (RCPI/4/3/6/2).
Hill was an accomplished scholar with a knowledge of Greek, Latin, French and Italian, had a library of over 1,800 books, and was also involved in the printing house at Trinity College Dublin. Hill was married, with a number of children including a son William and daughter Eliza. He died at his home on York Street Dublin on 31 October 1830. |