English dramatist, the son of George Colman 'the Elder'. Like his father, he was eeducated at Westminster and Oxford before studying law. In 1782 he produced the play 'The Female Dramatist' at his father's Haymarket theatre. Based on Smollett's 'Roderick Random', it was unsuccessful but the undeterred Colman went on to produce a string of successes at the Haymarket: 'Two to One' (1784), 'Turk and no Turk' (1785), 'Inkle and Yarico' (1787), 'Ways and Means' (1788), 'The Iron Chest' (based on Caleb Williams) (1796), 'The Poor Gentleman' (1802), 'John Bull' (1803), and 'The Heir at Law' (1808). He took over management of the Haymarket from his ailing father in 1789, but later was involved in litigation which bankrupted him. After a spell in Debtor's Prison, during which he continued to manage his affairs, he was released at the condescension of King George IV, and appointed Examiner of Plays by the Lord Chamberlain (basically, he became a censor). He later passed the shares in the Haymarket to his brother in law. During all this, he also found time to enjoy two marriages and write poetry. He died in Brompton, London, in 1836 and was interred in the family vault at his parish church.
English dramatist, the son of George Colman 'the Elder'. Like his father, he was eeducated at Westminster and Oxford before studying law. In 1782 he produced the play 'The Female Dramatist' at his father's Haymarket theatre. Based on Smollett's 'Roderick Random', it was unsuccessful but the undeterred Colman went on to produce a string of successes at the Haymarket: 'Two to One' (1784), 'Turk and no Turk' (1785), 'Inkle and Yarico' (1787), 'Ways and Means' (1788), 'The Iron Chest' (based on Caleb Williams) (1796), 'The Poor Gentleman' (1802), 'John Bull' (1803), and 'The Heir at Law' (1808). He took over management of the Haymarket from his ailing father in 1789, but later was involved in litigation which bankrupted him. After a spell in Debtor's Prison, during which he continued to manage his affairs, he was released at the condescension of King George IV, and appointed Examiner of Plays by the Lord Chamberlain (basically, he became a censor). He later passed the shares in the Haymarket to his brother in law. During all this, he also found time to enjoy two marriages and write poetry. He died in Brompton, London, in 1836 and was interred in the family vault at his parish church.
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