George Colman the younger
| George Colman | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 21 October 1762 |
| Died | 17 October 1836 (aged 73) Brompton, London |
| Nationality | British |
| Education |
Westminster School; Christ Church, Oxford; King's College, Aberdeen |
| Occupation | Playwright; examiner of plays |
George Colman (21 October 1762 – 17 October 1836), known as "the Younger", English dramatist and miscellaneous writer, was the son of George Colman "the Elder". His surname is often misspelled as "".
He passed from Westminster School to Christ Church, Oxford, and King's College, University of Aberdeen, and was finally entered as a student of law at Lincoln's Inn, London. While in Aberdeen he published a poem satirizing Charles James Fox, called The Man of the People; and in 1782 he produced, at his father's playhouse in the Haymarket, his first play, The Female Dramatist.
The failing health of the elder Colman obliged him to relinquish the management of the Haymarket theatre in 1789, when the younger George succeeded him, at a yearly salary of £600. On the death of the father the patent was continued to the son; but difficulties arose in his way, he was involved in litigation with Thomas Harris, and was unable to pay the expenses of the performances at the Haymarket. He was forced to take sanctuary within the Rules of the King's Bench. Here he resided for many years continuing to direct the affairs of his theatre.
Released at last through the kindness of George IV, who had appointed him exon. of the Yeomen of the Guard, a dignity disposed of by Colman to the highest bidder, he was made examiner of plays by the duke of Montrose, then Lord Chamberlain. This office, to the disgust of all contemporary dramatists, to whose manuscripts he was as illiberal as he was severe, he held till his death. Although his own productions were open to charges of indecency and profanity, he was so severe a censor of others that he would not pass even such words as "heaven," "providence" or "angel."
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Wikipedia