John Hill (courtier) facts for kids
Major-General John "Jack" Hill (who died on June 22, 1735) was a British army officer and a courtier during the time of Queen Anne. He wasn't known for being a brilliant military leader. Instead, his family connections helped him get promoted and gain important jobs until Queen Anne's reign ended.
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Early Life of John Hill
Jack, as he was known, was the youngest son of Francis Hill and Elizabeth Jenyns. His sister was Abigail Hill, who later became Baroness Masham. When his father's business failed, the family depended on their cousin, Sarah Churchill. Sarah later became the Duchess of Marlborough. Sarah paid for Jack's schooling at the St Albans Grammar School from 1690 to 1691. She also helped him get a job as a page for Prince George of Denmark in 1692. Later, in 1698, he became a Groom of the Bedchamber for the Duke of Gloucester. After the Duke of Gloucester died, Jack briefly returned to Prince George's household in 1700.
Military Career and Battles
The Duke of Marlborough helped John Hill become a captain in the Grenadier Guards in November 1702. In 1703, he was made adjutant general for the forces sent to Portugal. By May 1705, he became a colonel of a regiment of foot soldiers. This quick rise in rank wasn't mainly because of his military skills. While the Duke of Marlborough helped him, his promotions were increasingly due to his sister Abigail's growing influence. She was becoming more favored by Queen Anne than her cousin, the Duchess of Marlborough.
In 1706, Hill and his regiment joined an expedition led by Earl Rivers. This mission was first planned to attack the coast of France but was later sent to Lisbon. In 1707, Hill and his regiment were sent to Valencia. They took part in a campaign that ended with the Battle of Almansa. Hill commanded a brigade (a large group of soldiers) during the battle. His brigade included his own regiment and two others. Hill's brigade attacked the French during the later parts of the battle. This allowed the remaining British forces to retreat safely. However, he and his regiment were captured by the French.
Hill was later released and returned to England to rebuild his regiment. His regiment was sent to the Netherlands in the summer of 1708. They took part in the siege of Mons in 1709. On September 26, 1709, Hill's regiment was sent to advance the siege lines against the town. They had to fight off an attack from the town, suffering 150 casualties. Hill himself was wounded during this fight.
Rising Influence with the Tories
By 1710, John Hill's sister, Lady Masham, had become the Queen's favorite, replacing her cousin. She joined Robert Harley to weaken the Duke of Marlborough's power and help her brother. The Queen, encouraged by Harley, asked for Hill to be promoted to lead a regiment of dragoons. Marlborough refused to promote Hill over more experienced officers. This put more strain on his relationship with the Queen. In April, Marlborough was forced to agree to the Queen's demand that Hill be promoted to brigadier general. In May, Hill also received a yearly payment of £1000 for as long as the Queen lived. Marlborough and the Whig political party tried to have Lady Masham removed from the Queen's court. This attempt failed and eventually led to Marlborough losing his own political power.
Meanwhile, Hill was elected as a Member of Parliament for Lostwithiel in 1710. He didn't do much in the House of Commons. However, his former supporter, the Duchess of Marlborough, noted that he did make the effort to vote once, even when ill. He voted to support Harley's attacks on Marlborough.
Expedition to Quebec
Because he had strong connections with the Harley Ministry, John Hill's career continued to improve. In 1711, Henry St John brought back a plan to capture Quebec. Hill was suggested as the commander-in-chief to gain the Queen's approval. About 5,000 troops under Hill's command, on thirty transport ships, were escorted by ten warships led by Sir Hovenden Walker. They set sail for Quebec. However, eight transport ships carrying 800 men were wrecked in the Saint Lawrence River on August 11, 1711. This happened because of thick fog and strong winds. After a meeting, Hill and Walker decided to give up the mission without firing a single shot and returned to England. Jonathan Swift, a friend of Hill, privately noted that Hill's friends blamed him for not being decisive or a strong leader. However, Hill's connections with the Tory party allowed him to avoid any negative impact on his career from this disaster.
Further Promotions and Roles
In June 1712, John Hill became the Lieutenant-General of the Ordnance. This happened after the Whig politician Thomas Erle was removed from the position. Hill also received the job of Governor of Dunkirk after the Treaty of Utrecht was signed. In July, he was promoted to major general. In November, he was sworn into the Privy Council, a group of advisors to the monarch. Perhaps hoping for a peerage (a noble title) that was never offered, he did not run for election in 1713. In London, Hill joined a group of clever writers and thinkers led by Swift and St John. He was known for being very friendly and sociable. He returned to Dunkirk in February 1714 as a commissioner to inspect the forts. However, he came back to England in August for the start of George I's reign.
Later Life and Retirement
When Queen Anne died and George I became king, John Hill lost his government jobs. However, he kept his rank as major-general. He sold his colonelcy (the command of his regiment) to Edward Montagu in July 1715 and retired from the army. Both he and Lady Masham remained loyal to the Tory party in their later years. Hill spent his retirement at his home in Egham and his London house in Jermyn Street, where he died. He left his property to his nephew, Samuel Masham, 2nd Baron Masham.
