Hill, John Henry

(Sept. 11, 1791-July 1, 1882). Foreign missionary and educator. He was born in New York City. Hill graduated from Columbia College when he was sixteen and entered the mercantile business. He then studied at the Virginia Theological Seminary. Hill was ordained deacon on May 23, 1830, and priest on June 20, 1830. He and his wife, Frances Maria Mulligan Hill, went to Greece in late 1830 as missionaries. They opened schools for both boys and girls. When the Greek government began to provide education for boys, the Hills concentrated on the education of girls. Their school became the best educational institution for girls in the Greek-speaking world. They did not try to convert the Greeks to the Episcopal Church, but concentrated on education. They gave advice to the government on the development of national schools. Hill served for fifty years in Greece and is recognized as a major American missionary. Hill died in Athens, Greece. See Hill, Frances Maria Mulligan.