HOLT, SIR JOHN, the celebrated Lord Chief-Justice of the Court of King's Bench in the reign of William, was born at Thame, Oxfordshire, in 1642. His father, Sir Thomas Holt, had been sergeant-at-law, and his eldest son John followed also the profession of law. After having been entered at Oriel College, Oxford, as a gentleman commoner, he became a member of Gray's Inn in 1658. He soon displayed a decided predilection for the study of law, became an able advocate, and well versed in the constitutional law of England. He was made Recorder of London in 1685, which important office he held with ability for a year and a half, when he became unpopular at court. It had been determined to abolish the test act; but the measure was opposed by Holt, and in consequence he had to retire from the office of recorder. Subsequently, however, in 1686, he was made sergeant-at-law. The ability which he displayed in the Convention Parliament raised him so high in the estimation of the Prince of Orange, that, upon the accession of the latter to the English throne, Holt was made Lord Chief-Justice of King's Bench. Upon the removal of Somers in 1700 from the chancellorship, William was desirous that Holt should accept the Great Seal, but he declined. He died in 1709, at the age of sixty-seven.
Sir John Holt as a judge was a model of unbending integrity. He persevered in what he knew to be right, irrespective of the opposition of both houses of parliament. For twenty-two years his great acquaintance with common law, and strict sense of justice, were devoted to the preservation of the rights of his countrymen against invasion from whatever quarter. His understanding was sound, and his skill in seizing the main points of a case amid a mass of details, as well as his great clearness in stating the case, were valuable qualities in a judge. His physical as well as his moral courage was at times exhibited. He had been requested to supply a number of police to help the soldiery in quelling a riot. He assured the messenger that if any of the people were shot he would have the soldiers hanged. He went himself, and prevented bloodshed. On another occasion he had declared in favour of the Aylesbury burgesses, who had been committed to Newgate for complaining about the non-registering of their votes. The House of Commons summoned him to appear before them; but as the summons was disregarded they sent the Speaker to him. Holt peremptorily told the Speaker that unless he returned immediately to his chair he would have him sent to Newgate.
Chief-Justice Raymond has given a report of Holt's decisions. Holt's character as a judge is highly spoken of in the Tatler (No. 14), under the name of Verus. The following reports were published by him in 1708, folio, with notes:—
"A Report of divers cases in Picas of the Crown, adjudged and determined in the reign of King Charles II., with directions for justices of the peace and others, collected by Sir John Keyling, knight, Lord Chief-Justice of the Court of King's Bench, from the original manuscript under his hand; to which is added the Report of three modern cases—viz.,
Holt
Holy Island.
Armstrong and Lisle, the King and Plumer, the Queen and Mawbridge."