born at southwark, hinchliffe was the son of chamberlain hinchliff (1780–1856), of croom's hill, greenwich, and lee, both then in kent, by his marriage in 1824 to sarah parish, a daughter of woodbine parish of bawburgh in norfolk, the sister of sir woodbine parish (1796–1882), a traveller and diplomat. hinchliff was educated at the west ham grammar school, the blackheath proprietary school, and trinity college, cambridge, graduating ba in 1849, when he became a member of lincoln's inn. three years later he proceeded ma at cambridge and was called to the bar, but did not pursue a career as a barrister.