He was eldest son of George Holroyd, by Eleanor, daughter of Henry Sowley of
Appleby,
Westmorland, was born at
York on 31 October 1758. He was placed at
Harrow School in 1770, but his father lost money and he was unable to go to university. In April 1774 Holroyd was articled to a London attorney named Borthwick, and then entered
Gray's Inn in 1777. He read in the chambers of
Sir Alan Chambre, and in April 1779 began practice as a
special pleader. He at this time associated with
Samuel Romilly,
Edward Christian, and
John Baynes, and with them founded a legal debating society. He was
called to the bar 26 June 1787, and joining the northern circuit, obtained a practice both at assizes and at Westminster. Declining to
take silk, Holroyd continued to practise as a junior. In 1811 he distinguished himself in the case of Burdett v. Abbott, in which he appeared for the plaintiff
Sir Francis Burdett, against
Charles Abbott, Speaker of the House of Commons. In 1815 he was sent as commissioner to
Guernsey to inquire into grievances. On 14 February 1816 Holroyd succeeded
Sir Henry Dampier as a judge of the king's bench. On 17 November 1828 poor health compelled him to retire, and he died at his house at Hare Hatch,
Berkshire, 21 November 1831. There was a monument to him in
Wargrave Church, with an inscription by
Lord Brougham. ==Family==