Abraham Hill facts for kids

Abraham Hill (born April 19, 1633, in London; died February 5, 1721) was an important British merchant. He was also a member of the Royal Society, a famous group of scientists.

Life Story

Abraham Hill was baptized on June 16, 1635, in London. His father, Richard Hill, was a successful merchant and a city leader (Alderman) in London. His father also managed money for the government during a difficult time in the 1640s. His mother, Agnes Trewolla, came from a well-known family in Mevagissey.

Abraham followed in his father's footsteps and became a successful merchant. But he also loved learning! He studied different languages and philosophy, which is the study of knowledge and existence. He enjoyed collecting books and old coins.

When his father passed away in 1660, Abraham inherited a lot of money. He then rented rooms at Gresham College, a place known for learning.

Abraham Hill was a founding member of the Royal Society, a very important group for science. The King officially recognized this group in 1663. Abraham was chosen to be the treasurer of the Royal Society from 1663 to 1665. He was elected treasurer again in 1679 and held that job until 1700. This shows how much people trusted him with money and how dedicated he was to the society.

When King William III and Queen Mary II came to power, Abraham Hill got a job as a commissioner of trade. This meant he helped manage Britain's business with other countries. Later, when John Tillotson became the archbishop of Canterbury (a very important church leader), he hired Abraham as his comptroller, which is like a financial manager.

In the next king's reign, Abraham decided to leave his government job. He retired to his estate called St. John's in Sutton-at-Hone, Kent, which he had bought in 1665. He passed away on February 5, 1721, and was buried in the local church.

Abraham Hill was good friends with famous writers like John Evelyn and Samuel Pepys, who kept detailed diaries about their lives. He was also related to Abigail Hill, who became a lady at court.

His Writings

Abraham Hill wrote a biography of Isaac Barrow, a famous mathematician and theologian. This biography was included in the first volume of Barrow's collected Works in 1683.

Some of Abraham Hill's letters were collected and published in 1767. These letters show his thoughts and conversations with many smart people of his time. You can still find the original copies of his letters and other papers at the British Museum today. He also kept many notebooks filled with his ideas and official notes from his time as a trade commissioner.

Family Life

Abraham Hill was married twice. His first wife was Anne, the daughter of Sir Bulstrode Whitelocke. They had a son named Richard (1660–1721) and a daughter named Frances (1658–1736). After Anne passed away in 1661, he married Elizabeth, who was the daughter of Michael Pratt of Bromley-by-Bow.