Charles Caleb Colton English writer, priest and art collector Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Charles Caleb Colton
2. Early Career
3. Clerical Service and Art Collection
4. Financial Misfortune and Later Life
5. Literary Works

Biography of Charles Caleb Colton

Charles Caleb Colton was an English writer, clergyman, and art collector. He was born in 1780 and received his education at Eton College and King's College, where he obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees in 1801 and 1804, respectively.

Early Career

In 1801, Colton was assigned a parish in Devon, where he spent a significant portion of his life. However, his church duties were inconsistent, alternating between periods of careful and diligent work and periods of negligence and indifference.

Clerical Service and Art Collection

In 1812, Colton obtained the position of vicar in Kew and Petersham. While fulfilling his religious obligations, Colton's performance was uneven. He eventually left the church in 1828 and England as well. Some contemporaries claimed that financial reasons motivated his departure, as numerous creditors were planning to take legal action against him.

Colton embarked on a two-year journey through the United States before settling in a small estate in Paris. He invested his wealth in an art gallery and soon became the proud owner of an impressive collection of valuable paintings. In addition to his passion for art, Colton also dedicated much time and resources to his exceptional wine cellar. Hunting partridges was another favorite pastime of his.

Financial Misfortune and Later Life

One of Colton's main sources of income was his involvement in gaming salons in Palais Royal. In a span of two years, he won around £25,000. Unfortunately, Colton did not know when to stop, and in the end, he lost everything. During his final days, he relied on financial support from his relatives.

The cause of Colton's death was his refusal to undergo a necessary surgical operation. His aversion to going under the knife was so strong that he ultimately chose to end his life rather than seek medical help.

Literary Works

Colton's books, which were once incredibly popular, have not survived to this day. He wrote collections of short essays and epigrammatic aphorisms. He gained particular fame for his two volumes of "Lacon," published in 1820 and 1822, which went through several editions. Even today, Colton's aphorisms can be found in numerous popular quotation books.