John Robert Hilton, CMG (5 January 1908 – 20 April 1994) was a British academic, architect and intelligence officer. From 1934 to 1936, he served as the first Director of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus. He then worked as an architect, served in the British Army during the Second World War, and served as a career intelligence officer with MI6 until he retired.[1]
In August 1934, Hilton was appointed as the first Director of the newly established Department of Antiquities, Cyprus.[4]: 162 He had also been offered the post of lecturer in philosophy at the University of Birmingham, but he chose to go to Cyprus instead.[3] Letters of correspondence between Hilton and the Antiquities Officer for Famagusta, Theophilus Amin Halil Mogabgab, exist in the archives of King's College London.[1] Inexperienced in government administration, confusion over his exact role, and often sidelined by Rupert Gunnis, the inspector of antiquities for the Cyprus Museum, Hilton tended his resignation in July 1935 to take effect on 31 December 1935.[4]: 163 His departure was announced by the press as follows: "The Colonial Secretary has appointed Mr. Hubert Megaw, Assistant Director of the British School of Archaeology in Athens as Director of Antiquities in Cyprus in succession to Mr. John Robert Hilton, who has resigned."[5]
In 1936 he returned to England,[3] where he practised architecture under E.S. and A. Robinson, and in private practice between 1936 and 1941.[1]
In 1933 he married Margaret Stephens, together they have one son and two daughters, one which predeceased him and Jennifer Hilton. His brother is artist Roger Hilton.[3]
