collins was educated at the working men's college and birkbeck college in london. he married frances miriam denny in 1863, and had five sons and four daughters. his sons included arthur l. collins, a mine manager murdered in america, and william edward collins, bishop of gibraltar in europe. he died at his home in crinnis, near st austell, on 12 april 1916 and is buried in nearby campdowns cemetery. a memorial was erected by the mineralogical society on 10 june 2005 at st paul's church, charlestown.