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- Seignelay immigrated at the invitation of his uncles to France as a 14 year old boy in 1750, where he enrolled in the priesthood. By age 28 he became Grand Vicar-General of Toulouse and in 1781 was made Bishop of Rhodez. "As Bishop, he distinguished himself by the work he did for the improvement of agriculture and industry in his diocese, and, as a member of the States General in 1789, he became the hero of the hour in Paris and was carried shoulder-high through the streets for proposing the union of the clergy with the Third Estate. In 1792, during the French Revolution, when the Civil Constitution of the clergy was declared, Segnelay refused to submit, and fled to England to seek shelter and asylum with his brother Lewis. Segnelay later returned to France and spent the remainder of his days as Secretary to King Louis XVIII." (Bulloch)
Seignelay is recorded as having been a cousin of philosopher David Hume and a close friend and "chief guide" to Adam Smith, the famous economist.
Belfast Newsletter, 18-22 May 1781, p. 2. Under the heading of Dublinis found the following notice:
"A letter from Paris, dated April 30, says, 'On Sunday, the 22nd instant, John Seignelay COLBERT, or CUTHBERT, was consecrated Bishop Rodez Rovergue, by Stephen Charles Lomenie de Brienne, Archbishop of Toulouse, assisted by John de la Croix de Castries, Bishop of Vabres, and John Augustus de Chastenet de Puysequi, Bishop of Careassone(?), in the presence of a numerous assembly of persons of the first distinction in France, friends of the Bishop-elect, and of the principal nobility and gentry, British subjects, who were then in this city. This gentleman is the eldest son of the late Mr. COLBERT of Castlehill, in Invernessshire, in Scotland. He came to France at the age of fourteen years, and was placed by his uncle, a Roman Catholic clergyman, in the Scotch college at Paris, where he remained some years. He was afterwards in the college of Harcourt, and in both these colleges always distinguished himself by his good behaviour, and diligent application to his studies. He returned to the Scotch college, received priestly orders, was made Vicar-General in the diocese of Toulouse, and on account of his extraordinary parts and great merit, has been raised to the episcopal dignity, which very seldom happens to a foreigner in France. He is not only Bishop, but also Count of Rodez, and President of the States of Rovergue. He is, at present, about 46 years of age, of a very becoming appearance, and is endowed with a solid judgement, and a remarkable good heart.'"
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Abt 1735 - Aft 1802 (~ 68 years)
