Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Colliber, Samuel
COLLIBER, SAMUEL (fl. 1718–1737), author, published in 1727 'Columna Rostrata,' a naval history, more especially of the Dutch wars of the previous century, for which it is often referred to as a contemporary authority. This, of course, it is not; but notwithstanding its unsatisfactory brevity, it has an unwonted value from the fact of its author being familiar with Dutch and French, and having examined the works of writers in those languages. A second edition was published in 1742. Colliber wrote also a number of semi-religious, or rather pantheistic tracts, including 'An Impartial Enquiry into the Existence and Nature of God' (1718, 8vo, 230 pp.), which ran through several editions; 'Free Thoughts concerning Souls' (1734, 8vo); and 'The Known God, or the Author of Nature unveiled' (1737, 8vo). They display considerable ingenuity of argument, the style of which, as well as occasional illustrations, shows him to have had some knowledge of mathematics and to have been not unacquainted with Latin and Greek.
Nothing is known of him except what little is gathered from his writings. Though he wrote on religious subjects, he was not a clergyman; and though he wrote on naval subjects he was not a seaman. He may possibly have served for some little time in the navy as a volunteer, or more probably as a schoolmaster.
[Colliber's Works.]