COLCHESTER, CHARLES ABBOT, IST BARON 1829), was born in Abingdon, and educated at Westminster school and Oxford. In 1795, after having practised 12 years as a barrister, he was appointed clerk of the rules in the king's bench and elected member of parliament. To his efforts were due the establishment of the Royal Record Commission, the reform of the system which had allowed the public money to lie for long periods in the hands of the public accountants, by charging them with payment of interest, and, most important of all, the act for taking the first census (I 8o 1) . In March I 8o I Abbot became chief secretary and privy seal for Ireland; and in 1802 he was chosen speaker of the House of Commons. In response to an address of the Commons, he became Baron Colchester, with a pension of f4,000. He died on May 8, 1829.