Sir John, knight, eldest son of Sir Thomas Holt, serjeant-at-law, was born in 1642. He entered himself at Gray's Inn in 1658; and applied to the common law with so much industry, that he soon became a very eminent barrister. In the reign of James II. he was made recorder of London, which office he discharged with much applause for about a year and a half; but lost his place for refusing to expound the law suitably to the king's designs. On the arrival of the prince of Orange, he was chosen a member of the convention parliament, which afforded him a good opportunity of displaying his abilities; so that, as soon as the government was settled, he was made lord chief justice of the court of king's bench, and a privy counsellor. He continued chief justice for 22 years, with great repute for steadiness, integrity, and thorough knowledge in his profession. Upon great occasions he asserted the law with intrepidity, though he thereby ventured to incur by turns the indignation of both the houses of parliament. He published some reports, and died in 1709.

(Sax.) "a wood;" whereby the names of towns beginning or ending with holt, as Buck-holt, &c., denote that formerly there was great plenty of wood in those places.