Background
Rolt was baptized at Shrewsbury, the son of Richard Rolt (died 1739) and Mary Davies. He then went to Dublin, hoping to obtain employment in Ireland through the influence of his relative on his mother"s side Ambrose Philips.
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Richard Rolt
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He attended Shrewsbury grammar school, under Leonard Hotchkiss.
Career
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 political circles. Writing for a living, Rolt is said to have composed more than a hundred cantatas, songs, and other pieces for Vauxhall Gardens, Sadler"s Wells (where he worked with Thomas Rosoman), and the "legitimate" theatres.
He also wrote copiously for periodicals, and acted as an editors
With Christopher Smart, he was employed by Thomas Gardner the bookseller to write a monthly miscellany, The Universal Visiter. Rolt died on 2 March 1770, aged 45.
After Rolt"s death, Bishop Thomas Percy gave her a pension.
Membership
The family was connected to that of Samuel Rolt, Member of Parliament for Bedford.
