Neil was born in 1852, the second son of the Rev. Robert, Minister of Glengairn, Ballater, and Mary, daughter of James Reid, of Templeton, Kildrummy, Aberdeenshire). He attended Aberdeen Grammar School, prior to coming up to Peterhouse College, Cambridge in 1872 as a Scholar. He gained his B.A. in 1876 (2nd Classic) and M.A. in 1879. He was elected to a Fellowship at Pembroke College in 1876. He was Senior Tutor of the College for 1900-1901. He was a University Lecturer in Sanskrit from 1883-1901. He was awarded an LL.D. from the University of Aberdeen in 1891. He died in his rooms in Pembroke on the 19 June 1901 and was buried at Glengairn.