Robert Rolle

Robert Rolle (c. 1677 – 18 November 1710) of Stevenstone, in Devon, was an English landowner and Tory politician who sat in the English and British House of Commons between 1701 and 1710.

Early life Rolle was the eldest son of John Rolle, son and heir apparent of Sir John Rolle of Stevenstone, and his wife Lady Christiana Bruce, daughter of Robert Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury and 2nd Earl of Elgin. Rolle's father died on 22 April 1689 during the lifetime of his father, and his mother married secondly Sir Robert Gayer, KB, of Buckinghamshire. Thus he was heir to his grandfather Sir John Rolle on his death in 1706. The Rolle family was one of the richest and most powerful in Devon and owned several dozen manors, their most ancient holding being Stevenstone near Great Torrington in the north of the county, whilst Bicton in the east was the centre of another large block of territory.

Career Rolle was returned as Member of Parliament for Callington, a pocket borough of the Rolle family, at the two general elections of 1701. At the 1702 English general election he was returned as Tory MP for Devon. He was returned at the 1705 English general election and voted against the Court candidate as Speaker on 25 October 1705.

Rolle married on 19 March 1705 Elizabeth Duke (died 1716), daughter of Richard Duke (1652–1733), MP, of Otterton, Devon, which manor adjoined the Rolle seat of Bicton. On his marriage Robert received an annual settlement of £1,500 from his grandfather Sir John Rolle. was passed in 1710 as the (8 Ann. c. 6 ), Rolle was enabled to sell some out-lying parts of the estate and re-invest any surplus proceeds in purchases by the same trust in lands situated more conveniently. As a Tory, he voted against the impeachment of Henry Sacheverell in 1710.