American government official, attorney, diplomat and Director of the CIA. During WW II, Colby entered the U.S. Army, 1941-1945, where he was awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star.
He passed the New York State Bar in 1947 and worked as a lawyer 1947-1950. As an attaché with the American Embassy he served in Stockholm 1951-1953, Rome 1953-1958 and Saigon 1959-1962.
He was Chief of the CIA Far East Division in Washington, DC, 1962-1967, and CIA Director 1973-976. In 1977, he entered into partnership in a law firm, making considerably more than he did when working for the government.
Colby is the author of a memoir, “Honorable Men, My Life in the CIA” (1978). He also wrote a book on Vietnam, “Lost Victory” (1989).
He never really liked the business of spying. A devout Christian and rigid Catholic, he was a stern and precise man.
He married in 1945 with five kids; one died. In the early ’80s his marriage broke down, and he made a second marriage.
On 27 April 1996, Colby set out from his weekend home in Rock Point, Maryland on a solo canoe trip. His canoe was found the following day on a sandbar in the Wicomico River, a tributary of the Potomac, approximately a quarter mile from his home.
On 6 May his body was found in a marshy riverbank lying facedown not far from where his canoe was found. At his cabin, the computer was still running and a glass of wine was on the sink. He had talked to his wife and told her he was going out in the canoe, and it was speculated that he had a heart attack while taking out the canoe.
Link to Wikipedia biography