Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Rolt, Richard
ROLT, RICHARD (1725?–1770), miscellaneous writer, descended from a Hertfordshire family (see Cussans, Hertfordshire, passim), was born probably at Shrewsbury in 1724 or 1725. Placed under an excise officer in the north of England, he joined the Jacobite army in 1745, and was therefore dismissed from his situation. He then went to Dublin, hoping to obtain employment through the influence of his relative Ambrose Philips [q. v.], but, owing to Philips's death in 1749, failed to do so. While he was in Dublin he is said to have published in his own name Akenside's ‘Pleasures of the Imagination.’ This story appears to be untrue; but, as Malone suggests, it is not improbable that Rolt acquiesced in having the poem, which was published anonymously, attributed to him (European Magazine, 1803, ii. 9, 85; Boswell, Life of Johnson, ed. Hill, i. 358, 359). Patronised by General Oglethorpe, Lord Middlesex, and others, Rolt published ‘Cambria, a Poem in three books’ (London, 1749, 4to), dedicated to Prince George (afterwards George III). His ‘Poem … to the Memory of Sir W. W. Wynne, Bart.,’ London, 1749, 4to, was very favourably received. He then issued ‘An Impartial Representation of the Conduct of the Several Powers of Europe engaged in the late general War … from 1739 … to … 1748’ (4 vols. London, 1749–50, 8vo), which Voltaire read ‘with much pleasure’ (‘Rolt's Correspondence with Voltaire,’ European Magazine, 1803, i. 98–100). Entirely dependent on authorship for a living, he is said to have composed more than a hundred cantatas, songs, and other pieces for Vauxhall, Sadler's Wells, and the theatres. His ‘Eliza, a new Musical Entertainment … the Music composed by Mr. Arne’ (London, 1754, 8vo), and ‘Almena, an English Opera … the Music composed by Mr. Arne and Mr. Battishill’ (London, 1764, 8vo; another edit. Dublin [1764?], 12mo), were successfully produced at Drury Lane Theatre on 20 Jan. 1757 and 2 Nov. 1764 respectively (Genest). He, in conjunction with Christopher Smart [q. v.], was employed by Gardner the bookseller to write a monthly miscellany, ‘The Universal Visitor.’ It is said that the authors were to receive one-third of the profits, and that the contract was for ninety-nine years. Boswell, however, throws doubt on the reality of ‘this supposed extraordinary contract’ (Boswell, Life of Johnson, ed. Hill, ii. 344, 345).
Rolt died on 2 March 1770, aged 45. He was twice married, and left a daughter by each of his wives. His second wife, who survived him many years, was, by her mother, related to the Percys of Worcester. After Rolt's death, Bishop Percy allowed her a pension.
Rolt is accused of conceit and incompetence. Though unacquainted with Dr. Johnson, he used to say, ‘I am just come from Sam Johnson’ (ib. i. 358). In the ‘Pasquinade’ (1753) he is described as ‘Dull Rolt long steep'd in Sedgeley's nut-brown beer.’ In addition to the works mentioned above, he published: 1. ‘The Ancient Rosciad,’ 1753. 2. ‘Memoirs of the Life of … James Lindesay, Earl of Crawfurd and Lindesay,’ &c., London, 1753, 4to. 3. ‘A New and Accurate History of South America,’ &c., London, 1756, 8vo. 4. ‘A New Dictionary of Trade and Commerce,’ &c., London, 1756, fol.; 2nd ed. London, 1761, fol. Dr. Johnson wrote the preface to this ‘wretched compilation’ (McCulloch), though he ‘never saw the man and never read the book.’ ‘The booksellers wanted a Preface. … I knew very well what such a dictionary should be, and I wrote a preface accordingly’ (Boswell). 5. ‘The Lives of the Principal Reformers, &c. … Embellished with the Heads of the Reformers … in Mezzotinto … by … Houston,’ London, 1759, fol., and other works. He also edited from the author's manuscript ‘Travels through Italy’ (1766), by Captain John Northall [q. v.] At the time of his death he had projected a ‘History of the Island of Man,’ which was published in 1773, and a ‘History of the British Empire in North America’ in six volumes, which has disappeared. ‘Select Pieces of the late R. Rolt (dedicated to Lady Sondes, by Mary Rolt),’ sm. 8vo, was published in 1772 for the benefit of Rolt's widow.
[Authorities quoted; Chalmers's Biographical Dictionary, xxvi. 353–6; Baker's Biogr. Dram.; Nichols's Literary Illustrations, iv. 687–91, vi. 61, 62; McCulloch's Literature of Political Economy, p. 52.]