George Colton

George Colton (October 31, 1817 – May 4, 1898) was an American politician, printer and newspaperman. He served as member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Baltimore's 2nd district, from 1868 to 1872 and 1888 to 1892. Colton served as president of the Baltimore Board of Police Commissioners. He owned and operated both the Maryland Republican in the 1860s and the Baltimore Gazette in the 1880s.

Early life George Colton was born on October 31, 1817, in Portsmouth, England to Elizabeth (née Moore) and John Colton. His father was a soldier of the British Army. In 1819, the family emigrated to the United States and settled in Leonardtown, Maryland. Colton lost his father at the age of thirteen and was apprenticed as a tailor though had an affinity to reading and was knowledgeable on English literature.

Career After serving as an apprentice, Colton opened a tailor shop at Leonardtown. He then opened a shop at West River, Maryland. After not finding success, Colton opened a general store. In 1847, his store burned down and he was in debt. He spent the next fourteen years, until 1861, paying off the debts to creditors he owed. From 1873 to 1875, Colton worked as a director of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. From 1874 to 1880, Colton held the office of state printer. He served in the Maryland House of Delegates, representing District 2 (the ninth ward) of Baltimore, from 1888 to 1892. In 1890, he served as chairman of the committee on corporations.

In 1865, Colton purchased an Annapolis newspaper, the Maryland Republican. He worked on the paper with his son Luther. Colton sold the Maryland Republican after the death of his son Luther in 1866. On May 1, 1881, Colton became proprietor of the Baltimore Gazette and purchased the paper from William H. Welsh. After three or four years, he sold the Baltimore Gazette.