Thomas Rolt

For the English engineering writer and transport historian known as Tom Rolt, see L. T. C. Rolt.

Sir Thomas Rolt (c.1631–1710)^[1][2] was a British official of the East India Company, President of Surat and Governor of Bombay from 1677 to 1681.^[3][4] His father was Edward Rolt of Pertenhall in Bedfordshire; his mother was Edward Rolt's second wife Mary, a daughter of Sir Oliver Cromwell.^[5][6]

Rolt began his career at the Surat factory of the Company, and was a writer from 1658. He moved to Persia where he was the local chief, agent on the Persian Gulf from 1671 to 1677.^[6][7][8] During his period as President of Surat, the Company ordered him to cut back expenditure.^[9] Rolt pursued a policy that aimed to be even-handed with respect to the Marathas and the Siddis of Gujarat, which brought him criticism from Richard Keigwin.^[10]

In 1682 Rolt returned to England with a fortune.^[6] He bought the manor of Sacombe in Hertfordshire in 1688, from Sir John Gore. In the vestry of Sacombe Church, there is a memorial to Rolt, who died in 1710, and to his wife, who died in 1716.^[11]

Family

Edward and Constantia Rolt

Rolt married Mary, daughter of Thomas Coxe. Edward Rolt the Member of Parliament was their son.^[6] Their daughter Constantia married John Kyrle Ernle.^[12] The marriage also made Rolt stepfather of Samuel Rolt, another Member of Parliament, and the son of Thomas Rolt of Milton Ernest.^[13]