A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Hills, John
HILLS. (Commander, 1841. f-p., 36; h-p., 3.)
John Hills entered the Navy, 6 Feb. 1808, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Northumberland 74, Capt. Wm. Hargood; and during the two following years was often under the fire of the enemy’s batteries in the Adriatic. From Aug. 1310 until Dec. 1814 he was employed in the Channel, off the north coast of Spain, and on the Brazilian station, as Midshipman and Master’s Mate, in the Iris 36, Capts. Thos. Geo. Shortland and Hood Hanway Christian. While on the Spanish coast he was frequently entrusted with the hazardous duty of landing arms for the use of the Guerillas. He figured also as a volunteer in two cutting-out expeditions, and, besides otherwise coming into contact with the enemy, assisted in the bombardment and capture of Bermeo and Castro. On leaving the Iris Mr. Hills, who had passed his examination 7 June, 1814, successively joined the Namur 74, Capt. Geo. M‘Kinley, and Forth 44, Capt. Sir Wm. Bolton, in which latter ship he escorted the Duchesse d’Angoulême from Portsmouth to Dieppe, and on the occasion of her arrival and departure was each time selected to attend her at the side of the vessel. Between Sept. 1815 and Dec. 1817 we find him serving on board the Désirée and Active frigates, commanded in the West Indies by Capt. Philip Carteret, and Queen Charlotte 100, flag-ship of Sir Edw. Thornbrough at Portsmouth. After a subsequent servitude of six years in the Coast Blockade as Admiralty Midshipman and Mate of the Severn frigate, and Ramillies 74, both under the command of Capt. Wm. M‘Culloch, Mr. Hills at length obtained a commission dated 21 Jan. 1824. Rejoining the Coast Blockade, however, in the following April, he continued in it until its abolition in March, 1831, from which period until advanced to the rank of Commander, 23 Nov. 1841, he officiated as a Chief Officer in the Coast Guard. Since 15 May, 1844, he has been again employed in that service.
During the term of his original servitude in the Coast Blockade and Coast Guard, Commander Hills was five times engaged in conflict with smugglers. In one of them his arm was broken, and in some of the others he had the misfortune to receive permanent injury.