The elder son of William Hillman, MRCS, Surgeon RN, retired. After a sound general education he entered as a medical student at University College Hospital. Having qualified in 1841, he was elected after a competitive examination to a studentship in human and comparative anatomy at the Royal College of Surgeons in succession to John Thomas Quekett, an unsuccessful candidate being Spencer Wells. Under the direction of Stanley and James Paget, Hillman worked with zeal until 1844 at the compilation of a revised Catalogue, which was fully recognized by the Museum Committee in their report to the Council. In 1845 Hillman was elected Surgeon to the Farringdon General Dispensary, a post which he held until 1858, when he was elected Assistant Surgeon to Westminster Hospital and Lecturer on Physiology and General Anatomy in the Medical School. In 1869 he became full Surgeon, but began to suffer from heart disease, aggravated by devotion to his father, to whom he acted for years as nurse at night. Early in 1871 he resigned from Westminster Hospital, for his heart affection and pulmonary congestion prevented him from lying down at night. During his illness he was attended by his devoted friend, Dr C J Hare. He died at 1 Argyll Street, Regent Street, on December 11th, 1873, and was buried in Highgate Cemetery. The College Library contains the following MSS by Hillman: Preparations from the store put up by J T (John Taunton); Sir Astley Cooper's pathological specimens; Catalogue of specimens of mammalia and birds in store; Catalogue of invertebrates in store bottles; Description of the preparations from Mr Taunton, 1841; List of preparations procured at the late Mr Howship's sale, 1841; Description of Mr (Joseph) Swan's pathological preparations, 1842; Memoranda relating to pathology. Publication: *The Study of Physic and Surgery; being the Introductory Address to the Medical Society of University College, London*, 1846.