William Hincks was born on April 16, 1794, in Cork, Ireland.

He was a Presbyterian and Unitarian clergyman and natural historian. He spent much of his career as a social reformer, advocating the abolition of slavery, and promoting a shorter workweek. He studied at Manchester College, York (1809-1814) and became a Minister at Cork (1814-1817); Exeter (1817-1822); and Renshaw Street, Liverpool (1822-1827). In 1826, he became a tutor in mathematics, natural, mental, and moral philosophy at Manchester College, York (1827-1839). He also served as minister at Stamford Street, London (1839-1852) and the first editor of The Inquirer (1842-1849). In 1853, he emigrated to Toronto to take up a position as Professor of Natural History at a newly created University College of the University of Toronto. While there, he published his catalogue of birds of western Canada (now Ontario). He served as editor of the journal of the Canadian Institute and he contributed numerous papers on natural history and other topics. He went on to become president of the Canadian Institute. The specimens he accumulated while at the University of Toronto later became part of the Royal Ontario Museum.

In 1817, he married Maria Anne Yandell (1789–1849). He died on September 10, 1871, in Toronto, Ontario.