John Holt (author) facts for kids

John Holt (1743 – 21 March 1801) was an English author and teacher. He was known for his writings on agriculture and history, and for his work as a schoolmaster.

John Holt's Life

John Holt was born in 1743 in Hattersley, a small place near Mottram in Longdendale, in Cheshire, England. When he was about 14 years old, around 1757, he moved to Walton-on-the-Hill. This town was close to the big city of Liverpool.

His Many Jobs

For many years, John Holt had several important jobs in Walton. He worked as the parish clerk, which meant he helped with church records and duties. He was also the highway surveyor, responsible for keeping the roads in good condition.

Holt was a dedicated teacher. He was the master of the free grammar school in Walton. At one point, he even ran a school just for girls.

Family and Legacy

In 1767, John Holt married Elizabeth France, who was also from Walton. They did not have any children. He passed away in Walton on March 21, 1801.

A student of John Holt's, named W. Rogers, created an interesting etched portrait of him. Smaller copies of this portrait appeared in famous publications like The Gentleman's Magazine.

Holt was also recognized for his scientific work. He wrote a paper called "On the Curle in Potatoes." This paper was about a disease that affected potato plants. For this work, he received a special medal from the Society of Arts.

He wrote several books that were used in schools. He also wrote a few novels, which are fictional stories. John Holt collected a lot of information for a history book about Liverpool. He left all his research to another historian named Matthew Gregson.

John Holt often wrote articles for The Gentleman’s Magazine. For a long time, he also sent in the monthly 'Meteorological Diary' to this magazine. This diary recorded weather observations.

John Holt's Writings

John Holt published several important books during his lifetime. These books covered different topics, from history to farming.

Books on History

Between 1786 and 1788, Holt published a three-volume series. It was called Characters of Kings and Queens of England. This book likely described the lives and personalities of England's rulers.

• Characters of Kings and Queens of England (available at Google Books)

Books on Agriculture

A few years later, John Holt worked for the Board of Agriculture. This group was interested in improving farming methods. He was asked to study farming in Lancashire.

In 1794, he published his findings in a book titled General View of the Agriculture of the County of Lancaster, with Observations on the Means of its Improvement. This book looked at how farming was done in Lancashire and suggested ways to make it better. An updated version with more information was released in 1795.

• General View of the Agriculture of the County of Lancaster, with Observations on the Means of its Improvement (available at Google Books)