# Richard Rolt

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{{Short description|English writer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
'''Richard Rolt''' (1724–2 March 1770) was an [English writer](/source/English_writer), also known as a [poet](/source/poet) and [librettist](/source/librettist).<ref name="ODNB">{{cite ODNB|id=24035|title=Rolt, Richard|first=Betty|last=Rizzo}}</ref>

==Life==
Rolt was baptized at [Shrewsbury](/source/Shrewsbury), the son of Richard Rolt (died 1739) and Mary Davies. He was educated at [Shrewsbury School](/source/Shrewsbury_School), at that time under Leonard Hotchkiss. The family was connected to that of Samuel Rolt, Member of Parliament for [Bedford](/source/Bedford_(UK_Parliament_constituency)). Found a place under an excise officer in the north of England, by [John Orlebar](/source/John_Orlebar), MP and son-in-law of Samuel Rolt, he was suspected of joining the [Jacobite](/source/Jacobitism) army in 1745, and was therefore dismissed from his situation. He then went to [Dublin](/source/Dublin), hoping to obtain employment in Ireland through the influence of his relative on his mother's side [Ambrose Philips](/source/Ambrose_Philips).<ref name="ODNB"/><ref name="DNB">{{cite DNB|wstitle=Rolt, Richard|volume=49}}</ref>

Philips returned with Rolt to London in 1748, dying the next year. By then Rolt had been articled to an attorney, and had been introduced to [Whig](/source/Whig_Party_(UK)) political circles.<ref name="ODNB"/> Writing for a living, Rolt is said to have composed more than a hundred cantatas, songs, and other pieces for [Vauxhall Gardens](/source/Vauxhall_Gardens), [Sadler's Wells](/source/Sadler's_Wells) (where he worked with Thomas Rosoman), and the "legitimate" theatres. He also wrote copiously for periodicals, and acted as an editor. With [Christopher Smart](/source/Christopher_Smart), he was employed by Thomas Gardner the bookseller to write a monthly miscellany, ''The Universal Visiter'' {{sic}}.<ref name="ODNB"/><ref name="DNB"/>

Rolt died on 2 March 1770, aged 45.<ref name="DNB"/>

==Works==
With patrons General [James Oglethorpe](/source/James_Oglethorpe), the [Earl of Middlesex](/source/Lionel_Sackville%2C_1st_Duke_of_Dorset), and others, Rolt published ''Cambria, a Poem in three books'' (London, 1749), dedicated to [Prince George](/source/George_III_of_Great_Britain). His ''Poem'' … to the memory of [Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 3rd Baronet](/source/Sir_Watkin_Williams-Wynn%2C_3rd_Baronet), London, 1749, was well 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), which [Voltaire](/source/Voltaire) enjoyed. His ''[Eliza](/source/Eliza_(Arne)), a new Musical Entertainment … the Music composed by Mr. [Arne](/source/Thomas_Arne)'' (London, 1754), and ''Almena, an English Opera … the Music composed by Mr. Arne and Mr. [Battishill](/source/Jonathan_Battishill)'' (London, 1764), were successfully produced at [Drury Lane Theatre](/source/Theatre_Royal%2C_Drury_Lane) on 20 January 1757, and 2 November 1764 respectively.<ref name="DNB"/> Another libretto was a translation from [Metastasio](/source/Metastasio), ''The Royal Shepherd'' (1764), composed by George Rush.<ref name="ODNB"/>

Rolt was given a bad reputation for competence, and is called a "hack compiler".<ref>{{cite book|author=Samuel Johnson|title=Selected Poetry and Prose|url=https://archive.org/details/selectedpoetrypr0000john|url-access=registration|date=1 January 1977|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-02929-3|page=[https://archive.org/details/selectedpoetrypr0000john/page/10 10]}}</ref> He also published:<ref name="DNB"/>

* ''The Ancient Rosciad'', 1753. 
* ''Memoirs of the Life of … James Lindesay, Earl of Crawfurd and Lindesay'', London, 1753. 
* ''A New and Accurate History of South America'', London, 1756.
* ''A New Dictionary of Trade and Commerce'', London, 1756; 2nd ed. London, 1761. [Samuel Johnson](/source/Samuel_Johnson) wrote the preface. [Arthur Murphy](/source/Arthur_Murphy_(writer)) commented that Johnson, who had planned a similar work, may have supplied Rolt with material. [James Boswell](/source/James_Boswell)'s recorded remark from Johnson, that he did not know Rolt and had not read the book, is not really consistent with that report.<ref>{{cite book|author=Robert Donald Spector|title=Samuel Johnson and the Essay|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KqpiBvRoKNgC&pg=PA119|date=1 January 1997|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-313-29775-5|page=119}}</ref> Rolt did claim acquaintance with Johnson.<ref name="DNB"/>
* ''The Lives of the principal reformers, both Englishmen and foreigners, comprehending the general history of the Reformation, from ... 1360 to 1600'', London, 1759, with mezzotints by [Richard Houston](/source/Richard_Houston),<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=fHUZAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR1 ''The Lives of the principal reformers, both Englishmen and foreigners, comprehending the general history of the Reformation, from ... 1360 to 1600''], London, Printed for E. Bakewell and H. Parker, 1759.</ref>

and other works. John Sherratt brought Rolt some writing projects at the end of the 1750s, designed to further his own interests in [privateering](/source/privateering).<ref name="ODNB"/>

Rolt edited from the author's manuscript ''Travels through Italy'' (1766), by [John Northall](/source/John_Northall).<ref name="DNB"/>

At his death Rolt left manuscripts, brought out by a group of friends: a ''History of the Isle of Man'', which was published in 1773, and ''The History of the British Dominions in North America'' in six volumes. ''Select Pieces of the late R. Rolt'' was dedicated to Lady Sondes, daughter of [Henry Pelham](/source/Henry_Pelham), a sometime patron of Rolt. It was published in 1772 for the benefit of Rolt's widow Mary, née Perrins.<ref name="ODNB"/><ref name="DNB"/>

==Family==
Rolt was twice married, and left a daughter by each of his wives. His second wife Mary, who survived him many years, was, by her mother, related to the Percys of Worcester. After Rolt's death, Bishop [Thomas Percy](/source/Thomas_Percy_(bishop_of_Dromore)) gave her a pension.<ref name="DNB"/>

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

;Attribution
{{DNB|wstitle=Rolt, Richard|volume=49}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rolt, Richard}}
Category:1724 births
Category:1770 deaths
Category:18th-century English poets
Category:English lexicographers
Category:British librettists
Category:English male poets
Category:People educated at Shrewsbury School
Category:Writers from Shrewsbury
Category:18th-century lexicographers
Category:English male non-fiction writers
Category:18th-century English male writers
Category:18th-century English non-fiction writers

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Richard Rolt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Rolt) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Rolt?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.