Born at Methwold, Norfolk on 20 January 1902, the son of a PM minister, Richard Bolton (1867-1951; e.m. 1893) he was educated at Hull and Keighley grammar schools. He trained as an accountant and qualified as an incorporated accountant in 1924, after moving to Douglas, IOM. For many years from 1940 he was actively involved in public life as a town councillor and a member of the House of Keys. As chancellor of the island's exchequer he succeeded in abolishing surtax in 1962, and in 1971-72 achieved a special relationship between the IOM and the EEC, to the advantage of the island's financial sector. These contribution's to local prosperity won him an OBE in 1973 and a knighthood in 1977. He was for some years a PM local preacher, but became a Presbyterian as a result of being appointed organist of St. Andrew's Church, Douglas, in 1925. His other interests included golf and social history. He died at Douglas on 11 September 1980.