Henry Hopper Miles was born on October 18, 1815, in London, England.

He was a professor, office holder, and author. He attended grammar school in Exeter, England, before completing scientific and medical studies at King’s College, University of Edinburgh, and at the University of Aberdeen, where he received an M.D. but never practised medicine. In 1845, he moved to Lennoxville, Quebec, where he became rector of the boys’ school. In 1846, he took up the chair of mathematics and natural philosophy at Bishop’s College. He also worked to establish public health programs, publishing "On the ventilation of dwelling-houses & schools", an address given to the Montreal Mechanics’ Institute in 1858. He served as a delegate for the Eastern Townships at the 1862 World's Fair in London. He received an honorary LL.D. from the University of Aberdeen (1863) and from McGill College (1866), and an honorary D.C.L. from Bishop’s College. In 1867, he left Bishop's to become acting secretary of the Council of Public Instruction of the new province of Quebec. Miles was also interested in Canadian history and the natural sciences. As a member of the Literary and Historical Society of Quebec, he proposed the creation of a public archive in 1870 and submitted a petition to the House of Commons in 1871. In 1877, he contributed to the founding of the Geographical Society of Quebec, of which he was president from 1879 to 1881. He also served as president of the Provincial Association of Protestant Teachers (1878-1879). Miles published several history textbooks, e.g., "The Child’s History of Canada" (1870), "A School History of Canada" (1870), and "The History of Canada under French Régime, 1535–1763" (1881).

In 1843, he married Elizabeth Anna Wilson (1821–1912). He died on August 3, 1895, in Montreal, Quebec.