Born in 1859 at Davidson, North Carolina, Hill received his B.A., M.A., and Litt.D. degrees from Davidson College in 1880, 1886, and 1905, respectively. In 1910 the University of North Carolina conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Law. He had been a professor of English at Middle Georgia Military and Agricultural College (later Georgia Military College) at Milledgeville, Georgia, from 1880 to 1889.
In 1889 Hill became a professor of English and bookkeeping at North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, one of the first six faculty members. Eventually, he also served as the college’s librarian.
In 1908 Hill was elected president of the college, the first "insider" to hold the position, and he served until 1916. During this time the Agricultural Extension Service was established and enrollment grew to more than 700. Hill died in 1924 at Blowing Rock, North Carolina.
Portrait
of Daniel Harvey Hill, Jr.