John Hill was born in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, England on 3rd June, 1808, to parents William Hill and Mary Sheen, both were deceased by the time John was just 5 years old. His father passed away the year John was born. It is not known who raised John but at an early age he expressed his determination to be a sailor and entered the Royal Navy when he was 16 years old. He was 28 years old when he arrived in South Australia, having spent 12 years in the Navy.