He studied law with Joshua Atherton of Amherst, New Hampshire, where his fellow students included William Plumer, who remained a lifelong friend.

[1] In 1801, Alexander Hamilton, founder of The New York Evening Post, appointed Coleman as the newspaper's first editor, and he served in this capacity until 1829.

[6] The duel arose from a dispute between Coleman and James Cheetham, editor of the rival New York City newspaper, American Citizen.

On the appointed evening it was quite dark, and the parties reportedly had to approach a few steps closer after taking initial shots, in order to see each other.

[7] Later the same year, Coleman's friend Alexander Hamilton was killed by Aaron Burr in perhaps the most famous duel in U.S. history.