Born 23 Aug 1524 in Paris, France to Pierre Hotman, Seigneur de Villers St Pol and Paule de Marle, heiress of the Seigneurie de Vaugien and Villers St Pol.
He converted to Protestanism sometime before the Summer of 1548 at which time he wed Claude Aubelin in Bourges, who, with her father Guillaume, Sieur de La Riviere, formerly of Orleans, was an exile like himself.
In October 1548, he moved to Geneva to be Calvin's secretary. He went to Lausanne May 1549, and was elected to that University Feb 1550. He was made a citizen of Geneva in 1553.
Went to Strasbourg Oct 1555 and was professor of law there in June 1556. Member from Strasbourg to the Colloquy of Worms 11 Sep 1557.
His wife, Claude Aubelin, died at Montbeliard in 1583 from the plague. He died 12 Feb 1590 in Basle, Switzerland.