HILL, ROWLAND HILL, 1ST VISCOUNT British general, was the second son of (Sir) John Hill, of Hawk stone, Shropshire, and nephew of the Rev. Rowland Hill 1833), was born at Prees Hall near Hawkstone on Aug. II, 1772. He entered the army in 1790, and had already seen much active service when in 1808 he was appointed to a brigade in the force sent to Portugal. From Vimeira to Vittoria, in advance or re treat, he proved himself Wellington's ablest and most indefatig able coadjutor. He led a brigade at Vimeira, at Corunna and at Oporto, and a division at Talavera (see PENINSULAR WAR). His capacity for independent command was fully demonstrated in the campaigns of 1810, 181I and 1812. In 1811 he annihilated a French detachment under Girard at Arroyo-dos-Molinos, and early in 1812, having now attained a rank of lieutenant-general (Jan. 1812) and become a K.B. (March), he carried by assault the important works of Almaraz on the Tagus. Hill led the right wing of Wellington's army in the Salamanca campaign in 1812 and at the battle of Vittoria in 1813. Later in this year he con ducted the investment of Pampeluna and fought with the greatest distinction at the Nivelle and the Nive. In the invasion of France in 1814 his corps was victoriously engaged both at Orthez and at Toulouse. Hill was one of the general officers rewarded for their services by peerages, his title being at first Baron Hill of Almaraz and Hawkstone, and he received a pension, the thanks of parliament and the freedom of the city of London. In 1815 Hill was appointed to one of the two corps commands in Flanders. At Waterloo he led the famous charge of Sir Frederick Adams's brigade against the Imperial Guard, and continued with the army in France until its withdrawal in 1818. When Wellington became premier in 1828, he received the appointment of general com manding-in-chief, and on resigning this office in 1842 he was created a viscount. He died on Dec. Io of the same year.
See E. Sidney, Life of Lord Hill, G.C.B. (1845).