Gonor, 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 intrusted with the management of the theatre. Colman died in the 62d year of his age, August 1794.

George, the younger, son of the preceding, was born Oct. 21, 1762. He began his education at a private academy in Marylebone, from whence he was removed to Westminster; and afterwards entered at Christ Church, Oxford. From Oxford he went to King's College, Aberdeen; and there he wrote some dramatical pieces, which were brought out in London at the Haymarket theatre, and immediately condemned. On his return to London he at first applied himself to law; but the bent of his genius and example of his father led him to devote his attention to literary pursuits. In 1785, during the illness of his father, he took the entire management of the Haymarket theatre, and became involved in a Chancery suit which ultimately reduced him to poverty. Having surrendered the management of the theatre, he was appointed licenser and examiner of plays, and received marks of distinguished favour from George IV. Of his dramatic works, the most popular are John Bull, Inkled and Yarico, The Poor Gentleman, The Heir-at-Law, The Iron Chest, &c. He wrote also the well-known comic tales Broad Grins, Poetical Vagaries, &c. In his Random Records he has given memoirs of his early life up to the time of his entering on the management of the Haymarket. Colman died Oct. 25, 1836. From the time that his earlier plays were condemned he invariably subscribed himself the Younger, lest his father's reputation should suffer from his ill success. Byron entertained a very high opinion of Colman's wit and conversational powers. "If I had," he said, "to choose, and could not get both at a time, I should say, 'Let me begin the evening with Sheridan, and finish it with Colman';—Sheridan for dinner, and Colman for supper; Sheridan for claret and port, but Colman for everything. Sheridan was a grenadier company of life-guards, but Colman a whole regiment—of light infantry to be sure—but still a regiment."