, an eminent dramatic author and manager, the son of Thomas Colman,
, an eminent dramatic author and
manager, the son of Thomas Colman, esq. British resident
at the court of the grand duke of Tuscany at Pisa, whose
wife was a sister of the countess of Bath, was born at Florence about the year 1733, and placed at a very early age
in Westminster-school, where he soon distinguished himself by the rapidity of his attainments, and the dawning
splendour of his talents. He was elected to Christ Church
college, Oxford, in 1751, and took the degree of M. A. in
1758. During his progress at Westminster, and while at
college, he formed those literary connections with whom
he remained in friendship till they severally dropped off
the stage of life. Lloyd, Churchill, Bonnel Thornton,
Cowper, and other celebrated wits of that period, were
among the intimate associates of Mr. Colman, and gave a
lustre to his name, by noticing him in some of their compositions. Even so early as the publication of the “Rosciad,
” Churchill proposed Mr. Colman as a proper judge
to decide on the pretensions of the several candidates for
the chair of Roscius; and only complains that he may be
thought too juvenile for so important an award.