COLMAN, GEORGE, the elder, a dramatic and miscellaneous writer, was born at Florence about 1733. He was the son of Mr Colman the British resident at the court of Tuscany, and of a sister of the Countess of Bath. He received the early part of his education at Westminster School, where Lloyd, Churchill, and some others who afterwards attained distinction in literature, were among his intimate companions. While at school he appeared in the character of a poet, and addressed to his cousin, Lord Pulteney, a copy of verses which were afterwards published in the magazine of St James. At Christ Church College, Oxford, he gave many proofs of his lively genius, uniting with Thornton in producing a weekly periodical paper entitled the Connoisseur, which was continued from Jan. 1754 to Sept. 1756, and afterwards published in 4 vols. 12mo. Although this work did not enjoy a reputation equal to that of the World, the Adventurer, and the Rambler, which made their appearance about the same time, yet it may with justice be affirmed that, for a ludicrous delineation of the manners of the day, some papers in it are at least equal to any which these performances contain. Having taken the degree of A. M., he left college and went to London; entered at Lincoln's Inn; and was admitted to the bar. But literary pursuits were more consonant to the bent of his genius. He published in 1760 a dramatic piece entitled Polly Honeycomb, which was successfully acted at Drury Lane; and in the following year appeared his comedy of the Jealous Wife. By the demise of Lord Bath he came into the possession of a handsome fortune, which was further augmented by the death of General Pulteney in 1767. He still continued to write for the stage, and produced, along with Garrick, the Clandestine Marriage. He also translated the comedies of Terence into English.
Soon afterwards he purchased from Mr Samuel Foote the Haymarket theatre, which he supplied with pieces either original or translations, and engaged the ablest actors. He executed a translation of Horace's Art of Poetry; to which he prefixed an ingenious account of the author's intention, and added many critical notes. Besides The Genius and The Gentleman, he produced a great many short humorous pieces of considerable merit. His mind was much impaired by a stroke of the palsy in 1789; and in consequence, his son was entrusted with the management of the theatre. Colman died in the 62d year of his age, August 1794.