George Colman

Born in London on October 21, 1762, George Colman the Younger grew up in a theatrical family as the son of playwright George Colman the Elder. Although he studied at Westminster School, Christ Church, Oxford, King’s College Aberdeen, and later entered Lincoln’s Inn, he was drawn toward the stage rather than the law.

His early success came with the comic opera Two to One in 1784, and he went on to write a steady stream of popular works for the theater. Among the best remembered are The Battle of Hexham, The Heir at Law, John Bull, and The Poor Gentleman. His writing mixed comedy, sentiment, spectacle, and sharp wit, making him a popular dramatist with audiences of his day.

Colman also became closely associated with the Theatre Royal Haymarket, succeeding his father in its management. Alongside his plays, he wrote humorous and satirical verse, adding to his reputation as a versatile man of letters. He died in London on October 17, 1836.