Michael Holt Jr. was born in Virginia on 6 May 1723 and moved to Orange County, North Carolina in about 1740. A planter, Holt served as a local justice of the peace. During the War of Regulation, Holt was the captain of the Orange County Militia and led troops in opposing the rebellion. As a result, the regulators captured and beat him in Hillsborough during the fall of 1770. Later the Battle of Alamance occurred on his property and following the battle, injured members of the militia and some Regulators were brought to his house for medical attention. Although initially a Loyalist, Holt joined the Patriot cause during the American Revolution. He died near Burlington on 20 June 1799.