He was a chaplain and master at St Paul's School for many years, as well as being associated with the Mercers' Company and churches in the City of London.
After studying at Mr Watkin's academy in Spital Square, Rider moved to the University of Oxford.
He initially matriculated at St Mary Hall in 1739 before moving to Jesus College, holding a scholarship there from 1744 to 1749.
Whilst it was designed to be an affordable and accessible history, it was not a success and was later described by William Thomas Lowndes as one of the vilest Grub Street compilations ever published.
This described the works of Tobias Smollett, David Hume, Samuel Johnson and others, including himself (with a favourable mention of his own writings).