author
Calvin Colton
1789–1857
A 19th-century American clergyman turned political writer, he moved from the pulpit into public debate and became closely associated with the ideas and career of Henry Clay. His books and journalism tackled religion, politics, economics, and the future of the United States.
2 Audiobooks
About the author
Born in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, in 1789, Calvin Colton studied at Yale and then at Andover Theological Seminary before entering the ministry. He first served in the Presbyterian church, later joined the Protestant Episcopal Church, and is described by library and reference sources as a clergyman, journalist, and author.
After leaving regular preaching because of voice trouble, he became better known as a writer and public commentator. He wrote on religious life in the United States, spent time in England as a correspondent, and later published works on national politics and public economy. He is especially remembered for editing and helping preserve the life, correspondence, and speeches of Henry Clay.
In his later years, Colton held the chair of Public Economy at Trinity College in Hartford. He died in Savannah, Georgia, in 1857. His career crossed several worlds at once—religion, journalism, and politics—which gives his work a distinctive place in early American public life.