scale; and that the idea of preparing an array to defend the country, on the assumption that it had no navy, had smaller justification than the idea of a navy acting without the support of an army. He joined William Edward Forster [q. v.] in forming the Imperial Federation. He urged his views in the House of Commons, where he sat in the conservative interest as member for the Bow and Bromley division of the Tower Hamlets from 1886 to 1892, and for Great Yarmouth from 1895 to 1906. He was a member of the royal commission on the supply of food and raw materials in time of war, in 1905, and on the congestion of Ireland, in 1906-7. Having inherited the estate of Dromquinna, Kenmare, co. Kerry, he took part in Irish local government, and acted as chairman of appeals under the Local Government Act in 1898. He was nominated C.M.G. in 1887, K.C.M.G. in the following year, and privy councillor in 1903. He died, after an operation, at his residence, Belgrave Road, London, on 27 May 1909. Colomb married on 1 Jan. 1866 Emily Anna, daughter of Robert Samuel Palmer, and widow of Charles Augustus Francis Paret, lieutenant R.N.; she died in 1907, leaving a son and two daughters.
Colomb's chief publications are: 1. 'The Defence of Great and Greater Britain,' 1879. 2. 'Naval Intelligence and Protection of Commerce,' 1881. 3. 'Imperial Federation, Naval and Military,' 1886.
[Royal Navy Lists; Who's Who; The Times, 28 May 1909; Library Cat., R.U.S. Institution; information from the family.]
COLTON, Sir JOHN (1822–1902), Australian statesman and premier of South Australia, son of William Colton, a Devonshire farmer, afterwards of McLaren Vale, South Australia, and Elizabeth his wife, was born in Devonshire on 23 Sept. 1823, and went to Australia with his father when sixteen years of age. Left early to his own resources, he began business in a humble way in Adelaide, but soon won a leading position in commercial life there. For many years senior partner in the mercantile firm of Colton & Co., he retired in 1883.
He first entered public life in 1859 as an alderman of the city of Adelaide, and was mayor in 1874-5. He was elected to the House of Assembly in March 1865 as member for Noarlunga, and, with short intervals, he represented that place throughout his public life. A staunch liberal, he took office for the first time on 3 Nov. 1868 as commissioner of public works in the Strangways ministry, from which he retired on 12 May 1870. He was treasurer under Sir James Boucaut from 3 June 1875 to 25 March 1876, when the cabinet was reconstructed. On 6 June 1876, having carried a vote of no confidence against the Boucaut ministry, Colton became premier and commissioner of public works. His government lasted till October 1877, when Boucaut in his turn moved a vote of no confidence, which was carried by the casting vote of the Speaker.
Colton resigned his seat for Noarlunga on 29 Aug. 1878 on account of ill-health, and did not re-enter parliament till 6 Jan. 1880. In June 1881, on the fall of the Morgan ministry, he declined, owing to the state of his health, an appeal to form a government. In June 1884, however, he again became premier and chief secretary, with a strong cabinet, including Mr. C. C. Kingston, Mr. W. B. Rounsevell, and Sir R. Baker. His government, which carried a bill embodying the principle of land and income taxation, lasted exactly one year. Colton led the opposition for a time, but at the close of the parliament he withdrew from public life and visited England. Colton made up in commonsense and energy for what he lacked in eloquence. The strength of the cabinets which he formed proved that he was quick to recognise ability. The political antagonism which he aroused did not survive his retirement. A staunch Wesleyan and an earnest advocate of temperance, Colton took great interest in education, and was a leading supporter of Prince Alfred College, of which he long was treasurer. He was made a K.C.M.G. on 1 Jan. 1891. He died at his residence in Adelaide on 6 Feb. 1902, and was buried in the West-terrace cemetery in that city.
Colton married on 4 Dec. 1844 Mary, daughter of Samuel Cutting of London, and had four sons and one daughter.
[Burke's Colonial Gentry, ii. 613; The Times, 7 Feb. 1902; Adelaide Advertiser, 7 Feb. 1902; Year Book of Australia, 1903; Hodder's History of South Australia, vol. ii.; Colonial Office Records.]
COLVILE, Sir HENRY EDWARD (1852–1907), lieutenant-general, born at Kirkby Mallory, Leicestershire, on 10 July 1852, was only son of Colonel Charles Robert Colvile of Lullington, Derbyshire, M.P. for South Derbyshire 1841-9 and 1865-8, by his wife Katharine Sarah Georgina, eldest daughter of Captain John Russell, R.N., and of Sophia, twenty-third Baroness de
