Holt

Holt, SIR JOHN, Lord Chief-justice of the Court of King's Bench, was born at Thame in Oxfordshire, on 30th December 1642. After leading a wild life as a student of Oriel College, Oxford, he entered at Gray's Inn, reformed his manners, and was called to the bar in 1663. He figured as counsel in most of the state-trials of that period, and generally as pleader for the defendants. In 1686 he was made recorder of London and king's serjeant, and was knighted. On the accession of William III. he was raised to the dignity of lord chief-justice of the King's Bench, and filled the post to his life's end. He died 3d March 1710. Sir John Holt occupies an honourable place among the dignitaries of the English bench on two accounts. Contrary to the practice of his predecessors, he treated those who appeared before him with uniform fairness and justice. Although politically a Whig, Holt's judi- cial career was entirely free from the stigma of party bias or intrigue. He distinguished himself by his courageous defence of the powers of his office against both crown and parliament, and his decisions were marked by conspicuous ability and unbending integrity. See Life (1764) and Reports of Cases determined by Sir John Holt from 1688 to 1710 (1738).