Incumbents
Governors and Deputy Governors
Please note that the names/spellings, dates and titles of Governors during the early period can differ between historical sources.
The holders of the positions of Governor and Deputy Governor are listed below. The title ascribed to these positions has altered over time, so where an alternative or additional title applied in respect of the position, this is stated in the Other Title column.
| Date | Governor | Deputy Governor | Other Title |
| 1219 | Holan | Seneschal | |
| * | * | * | * |
| 1260 | Fogall McHascatt | Seneschal | |
| 1266 | Godfrey MacManus | Bailiff | |
| ? | Alan of Galloway | Bailiff | |
| ? | Maurice Okerfair | Bailiff | |
| ? | Reginald the Chaplain | Bailiff | |
| ? | Brennus | Bailiff | |
| ? | Donald | Bailiff | |
| 1290 | Walter de Huntercombe | Custodian | |
| 1310 | Gilbert Makaskel | Custodian (1310 and 1312), Seneschal (1313) | |
| 1317 | John de Athy | Custodian | |
| 1333 | William de Montacute | Custodian | |
| ? 1338 | Martolene | ||
| * | * | * | * |
| ? 1405 | Michael Blundell | ||
| 1417 | John Letherland | Lieutenant | |
| 1422 | John Walton | Lieutenant | |
| 1428 | Henry Byron | Lieutenant | |
| * | * | * | * |
| 1496 | Peter Dutton | Captain | |
| 1497 | Henry Radcliffe, Lord Abbot of Rushen | Captain | |
| 1504 | John Farker, Lord Abbott of Rushen | ||
| 1505 | Ralph Rushton | Deputy | |
| 1508 | Ralph Rushton | Captain | |
| 1511 | Sir John Ireland | Lieutenant | |
| 1517 | Ralph Rushton | Captain | |
| 1518 | John Fasakerley | Lieutenant | |
| 1520 | Ralph Rushton | Deputy | |
| 1521 | Thomas Danport | ||
| 1522 | Sir John Ireland | Lieutenant | |
| 1525 | Richard Holt | ||
| 1526 | Richard Holt | Lieutenant | |
| 1527 | Henry Stanley | ||
| 1531 | Thomas Bradley | Deputy Lieutenant | |
| 1532 | John Fleming | Captain | |
| 1532 | Thomas Shirburne | Deputy | |
| 1535 | Thomas Bradley | Deputy Lieutenant | |
| 1536 | George Stanley | Captain | |
| 1536 | Thomas Nores | Lieutenant | |
| 1538 | Robert Corlett | Deputy Lieutenant | |
| 1540 | Thomas Tyldesley | Deputy Lieutenant | |
| 1541 | John Potter | Deputy | |
| 1545 | William Stanley | Captain | |
| 1552 | Henry Stanley | Captain | |
| 1562 | Sir Thomas Stanley | ||
| 1570 | Edward Tarbock | Captain | |
| 1576 | John Harmer | ||
| 1580 | Richard Sherburne | ||
| 1580 | John Meryck, Lord Bishop | ||
| 1592 | Cuthbert Gerard | ||
| 1592 | Thomas Mortimer | ||
| 1593 | The Hon William Stanley | ||
| 1593 | Thomas Gerard | ||
| 1594 | Randulph Stanley | ||
| 1595 | Sir Thomas Gerard | Captain | |
| 1596 | Peter Legh | Captain and Governor | |
| 1597 | Robert Molynieux | Deputy Governor | |
| 1599 | Cuthbert Gerard | ||
| 1600 | Robert Molynieux | ||
| 1609 | John Ireland | ||
| 1621 | Edward Fletcher | ||
| 1623 | Sir Frederick Liege | ||
| 1626 | Edward Holmewood | ||
| 1627 | Sir Charles Gerard | ||
| 1628 | Edward Christian | Lieutenant and Captain | |
| 1634 | Ewan Christian | ||
| 1637 | Edward Christian | ||
| 1639 | Radcliffe Gerrard | Deputy Governor | |
| 1639 | Sir Foulks Hunckes | Captain and Governor | |
| 1640 | John Greenhalghe | Captain and Governor | |
| 1651 | Sir Philip Musgrave | ||
| 1651 | Colonel Robert Duckenfield | ||
| 1652 | Colonel John Sharples | Deputy Governor | |
| 1652 | Matthew Cadwell | Governor | |
| 1652 | Samuel Smith | Deputy Governor | |
| 1656 | William Christian | ||
| 1659 | James Chaloner | ||
| 1660 | Roger Nowell | Governor, Captain General and Commander-in-Chief | |
| 1660 | Richard Stevenson | ||
| 1662 | Major Henry Nowell | Governor, Captain General and Commander-in-Chief | |
| 1663 | Major Thomas Stanley | Governor, Captain General and Commander-in-Chief | |
| 1664 | Isaac Barrow, Lord Bishop of Sodor and Mann | Governor | |
| 1673 | Henry Nowell | Governor | |
| 1677 | Henry Stanley | Governor | |
| 1678 | Robert Heywood | Governor | |
| 1690 | Roger Kenyon | ||
| 1692 | William Sacheverell | Deputy Governor | |
| 1693 | William Sacheverell | Governor | |
| 1696 | Colonel Nicholas Sankey | Governor | |
| 1700 | Captain Thomas Huddlestone | Deputy Governor | |
| 1701 | Captain James Cranstown | Governor | |
| 1702 | The Hon Charles Stanley | Chief Governor and Commander-in-Chief | |
| 1702 | Robert Mawdesley | Deputy Governor | |
| 1703 | Robert Mawdesley | Governor | |
| 1713 | The Hon Charles Stanley | Chief Governor | |
| 1713 | Captain Alexander Horne | Deputy Governor | |
| 1718 | Captain Alexander Horne | Governor and Commander-in-Chief | |
| 1723 | John Lloyd | Governor or Lieutenant | |
| 1725 | Thomas Horton | Deputy Lieutenant or Governor | |
| 1736 | James Murray | Governor and Commander-in-Chief | |
| 1744 | Patrick Lindesay | Governor and Commander-in-Chief | |
| 1751 | Basil Cochrane | Governor and Commander-in-Chief | |
| 1761 | John Wood | (1761 - Governor and Commander-in-Chief; 1765 – Governor-in-Chief and Captain-General) | |
| 1773 | Henry Hope | Lieutenant Governor | |
| 1775 | Richard Dawson | Lieutenant Governor | |
| 1777 | Major-General Edward Smith | Governor-in-Chief and Captain-General | |
| 1790 | Alexander Shaw | Lieutenant Governor | |
| 1793 | John Murray, Fourth Duke of Atholl, PC, KT | Governor-in-Chief and Captain General | |
| 1804 | Lieutenant Colonel Lord Henry Murray | Lieutenant Governor | |
| 1805 | Cornelius Smelt | Lieutenant Governor | |
| 1830 | Colonel Cornelius Smelt | [1] | Lieutenant Governor |
| 1832 | Major-General John Ready | Lieutenant Governor | |
| 1845 | The Hon Charles Hope | Lieutenant Governor | |
| 1860 | Mark Hildesley Quayle, CR[2] | Deputy Governor | |
| 1860 | Francis Stainsby-Connant-Pigott | Lieutenant Governor | |
| 1863 | Mark Hildesley Quayle, CR[3] | Deputy Governor | |
| 1863 | The Rt Hon Sir Henry Brougham Loch, First Baron Loch of Drylaw, PC, GCB, GCMG, DCL | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General | |
| 1882 | Sir Spencer Walpole, KCB, FBA, DLitt | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General | |
| 1893 | The Rt Hon Sir Joseph West Ridgeway, PC, GCB, GCMG, KCSI, LlD | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General | |
| 1895 | John Major Henniker-Major, Fifth Baron Henniker, FSA | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General | |
| 1902 | George Fitzroy Henry Somerset, Third Baron Raglan, GBE, CB | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General | |
| 1919 | Major-General Sir William Fry, KCVO, CB | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General | |
| 1926 | Sir Claude Hamilton Archer Hill, KCSI, CIE | [4] | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General |
| 1933 | Sir Montagu Sherard Dawes Butler, KCSI, CB, CIE, CVO, CBE | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General | |
| 1937 | Vice-Admiral the Rt Hon Sir William Spencer Leveson-Gower, Fourth Earl Granville, KG, KCVO, CB, DSO | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General | |
| 1945 | Air Vice-Marshal Sir Geoffrey Rhodes Bromet, KBE, CB, DSO | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General | |
| 1952 | Sir Ambrose Dundas Flux Dundas, KCIE, CSI | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General | |
| 1959 | Sir Ronald Herbert Garvey, KCMG, KCVO, MBE | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General | |
| 1966 | Sir Peter Hyla Gawne Stallard, KCMG, CVO, MBE | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General | |
| 1974 | Sir John Warburton Paul, GCMG, OBE, MC | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General | |
| 1980 | Rear-Admiral Sir Oswald Nigel Amherst Cecil, KBE, CB | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General | |
| 1985 | Major-General Sir Laurence Anthony Wallis New, CB, CBE | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General | |
| 1990 | Air Marshal Sir Laurence Alfred Jones, KCB, AFC | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General | |
| 1995 | Sir Timothy Lewis Achilles Daunt, KCMG | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General | |
| 2000 | Air Marshal Ian David Macfadyen, CB, OBE | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General | |
| 2005 | Vice-Admiral Sir Paul Kenneth Haddacks, KCB | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General | |
| 2011 | Mr Adam Wood | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General | |
| 2016 | Sir Richard Hugh Turton Gozney, KCMG, CVO | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General | |
| 2021 | Lieutenant General Sir John Lorimer, KCB, DSO, MBE | Lieutenant Governor and Captain General |
Presiding Officers
Presidents of Tynwald
When the Constitution Act 1990 came into force in July 1990, the Lieutenant Governor ceased to be the ex officio President of Tynwald,[5] and a President was elected from the Members of Tynwald.[6]
1990 Sir Henry Charles Kerruish OBE LLD (hc) CP
2000 Noel Quayle Cringle OBE
2011 Clare Christian BSc
2016 Stephen Charles Rodan OBE BSc (Hons) MRPharmS
2021 Laurence David Skelly
2026 Juan Paul Watterson BA (Hons) BFP FCA CMgr FCMI
Deputy Presidents of Tynwald
The Constitution Act 1990 provided for the election of a Deputy President of Tynwald:
“Tynwald shall from time to time by resolution elect a member of the Keys or an elected member of the Legislative Council to be Deputy President of Tynwald”. [7]
Following the election of Sir Charles Kerruish in 1990, the position of Deputy President of Tynwald was not filled until 7th July 1992.[8]
1992 James Crookall Cain FCA SHK
1997 Noel Quayle Cringle SHK
2000 John David Qualtrough Cannan SHK
2002 James Anthony Brown OBE SHK
2007 Stephen Charles Rodan OBE BSc (Hons) MRPharmS SHK
2016 Juan Paul Watterson BA (Hons) BFP FCA CMgr FCMI SHK
2021 Juan Paul Watterson BA (Hons) BFP FCA CMgr FCMI SHK
Presidents of the Legislative Council
Prior to the Constitution (Legislative Council) (Amendment) Act 1980, the Lieutenant Governor was ex officio President of the Legislative Council. This legislation came into force in 1980 and remained in force until the Constitution Act 1990. The President of the Legislative Council was elected from within the Legislative Council.
1980 John Allen Cowell Kennedy Nivison CBE JP CP
1987 Robert John Gurney Anderson
By virtue of the Constitution Act 1990 the role was amalgamated with that of the President of Tynwald.
Chairmen and Speakers of the House of Keys
Until 1867 the Speaker of the House of Keys was a role which only became vacant upon the death of the incumbent. Edward Moore Gawne became the first Speaker of the House of Keys to retire from the position in 1867.
c.1649 Major Richard Stevenson
c.1660-63 Edward Christian
1673 Charles Christian
1697 Captain Thomas Stevenson
1704 Captain John Stevenson
1738 Captain Thomas Heywood
1758 Sir George Moore
1780 John Taubman
1799 Major John Taubman
1823 Colonel Mark Wilkes FRS
1831 General Alexander John Goldie
1844 Colonel John Taubman Goldie -Taubman
1847 John Moore
1854 Edward Moore Gawne
1867 Sir John Senhouse Goldie-Taubman JP
1898 Arthur William Moore CVO MA JP
1909 Dalrymple Maitland
1919 John Robert Kerruish
1919 Sir George Frederick Clucas CBE JP
1937 Sir Joseph Davidson Qualtrough CBE
1960 Henry Knowles Corlett OBE JP
1962 Sir Henry Charles Kerruish OBE CP
1990 George Victor Harris Kneale CBE MA (hc)
1991 James Crookall Cain FCA
1996 Noel Quayle Cringle OBE
2000 John David Qualtrough Cannan
2001 James Anthony Brown
2006 Stephen Charles Rodan OBE BSc (Hons) MRPharmS SHK
2016 Juan Paul Watterson BA (Hons) BFP FCA CMgr FCMI SHK
2021 Juan Paul Watterson BA (Hons) BFP FCA CMgr FCMI SHK
Deputy Speaker of the House of Keys
The Deputy (or Acting) Speaker of the House of Keys did not become a post until the adoption of the 1964 House of Keys Standing Orders.[9] Prior to this date if it was necessary to appoint an Acting Speaker because of the absence of Speaker it was done on an ad-hoc basis.
1964 A S Kelly
1971 E Clifford Irving
1981 George Victor Harris Kneale CBE MA(hc)
1990 James Crookall Cain FCA
1992 Dr Edgar J Mann
1995 Noel Quayle Cringle OBE
1997 John David Qualtrough Cannan
2000 James Anthony Brown
2002 Donald James Gelling CBE CP CInstSMM
2002 Richard Edgar Quine
2004-06 Hazel Hannan
2008 Robert Philip Braidwood BEng
2010 Quintin Gill
2011 Leonard Ian Singer
2016 Christopher Roy Robertshaw
2021-24 Daphne Caine
2024 Catherine Ann Corlett
Following the General Election in 2006 it was noted, in a statement made by the Speaker of the House of Keys,[10] that a technical issue with the interpretation of the Council of Ministers Act 1990[11] and the Interpretation Act 1976[12] had arisen and a Deputy Speaker, once elected to that position, would automatically vacate their departmental office.
The Presiding Officers Act 2008, which received Royal Assent on 11th March 2008, allowed for the appointment of an Acting/Deputy Speaker to be a member of a Department and/or Statutory Board.
Clerks & Secretaries
Clerks of Tynwald
1909 Richard Daniel Gelling CP
1929 Ramsey Gelling Johnson OBE CP
1938 Frank Barnes Johnson MBE MA
1964 Thomas Edward Kermeen ISO FCIS
1976 Robert Brisco MacGregor Quayle MA
1987 Professor Thomas St John Neville Bates MA LLM
2001 Robert Brisco MacGregor Quayle MA
2001 Malachy Cornwell-Kelly LLB (Hons) AKC MCMI
2008 Roger Ian Sexton Phillips LLB
2021 Jonathan King LLB MA DPhil LRSM
Deputy Clerks of Tynwald (formerly Clerk Assistants of Tynwald)
1965 Norman Leslie Clague
1970 Rodney George Greggor Caley
1977 Thomas Arthur Bawden
2001 Marilyn Cullen
2007 Jonathan King LLB MA DPhil LRSM
2021 Joann Corkish LLB CMgr MCMI FRSA
Third Clerks of Tynwald (formerly Clerk Administrators of Tynwald)
1977 Geraldine E Collister
1980 June E M Brown
1993 Marilyn Cullen
2001 Philip Lo Bao BA MA PGCE
2008 Marie Lambden ACIS
2015 Joann Corkish LLB CMgr MCMI FRSA
2021 Carlos Phillips (Head of Legislative Services)[13]
Clerks of the Legislative Council
Before the Revestment the Clerk of the Rolls acted as Clerk of the Council without special appointment.
1765 John Quayle
1794 Robert Heywood CR
1797 Mark Hildesley Quayle CR
1804 Thomas Stowell CR
1822 John Bell
1830 George Quirk
1848 William Watson Christian
1851 James Burman
1864 John Thomas Clucas
1910 Bertram Edward Sargeant OBE MVO FSA
1943 John Nelson Panes MA
1954 Eric Reginald St Aubrey Davies MBE JP
1967 Gerald Jackson Bryan CMG CVO OBE MC
1969 William Bramwell Kennaugh
1972 Peter joseph Hulme
1976 John Raymond Cannan
1977 Thomas Arthur Bawden
2001 Marilyn Cullen
2007 Jonathan King LLB MA DPhil LRSM
2021 Joann Corkish LLB CMgr MCMI FRSA
Secretaries of the House of Keys
1793 Thomas Gawne MHK
1813 John Llewellyn MHK
1824 -
1841 George William Dumbell MHK
1858 Robert John Moore MHK
1884 John Corlett Lamothe
1898 George Cookson
1898 Richard Daniel Gelling CP
1929 Ramsey Gelling Johnson OBE CP
1938 Frank Barnes Johnson MBE MA
1964 Thomas Edward Kermeen ISO FCIS
1976 Robert Brisco MacGregor Quayle MA
1987 Professor Thomas St John Neville Bates MA LLM
2001 Robert Brisco MacGregor Quayle MA
2001 Malachy Cornwell-Kelly LLB(Hons) AKC MCMI
2008 Roger Ian Sexton Phillips LLB
2021 Jonathan King LLB MA DPhil LRSM
Chaplains of the House of Keys
1863 Rev. Edward Ferrier
1896 Rev. Robert B Baron
1906 Canon John Quine MA
1924 Rev. Martin C Taylor
1924 Canon Charles A Cannan MA
1929 Rev. Joseph Quayle Callister
1940 Canon James Hampton Cain MA
1944 Rev. John Kinrade Elliot
1955 Canon Henry Maddrell MA
1968 Rev. Joseph Wilson
1984 Rev. Robert Edward Cubbon
1991 Rev. Rex Kissack MA BD
1996 Ven. David Albert Willoughby BA
1998 Canon Denis Baggaley MA
2005 Rev. George Quinn MBE
2007 Rev. William H. Martin
2016 Ven. Andrew Brown
2022 Ven. Irene Cowell
[1] Following the death of the Duke of Atholl in 1830 the practice of having a Deputy Governor alongside a Governor ceased.
[2] Appointed as Deputy Governor following the resignation of Governor Hope.
[3] Appointed as Deputy Governor following the death of Governor Piggot.
[4] The Royal Warrant was altered from 1926 to provide for someone to deputise in the absence of the Lieutenant Governor. It states: AND We do hereby ordain that Our First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls, or in the event of his inability to act, Our Second Deemster, shall, after taking the oath, discharge the duties of Lieutenant-Governor whenever owing to your absence from the Island or any other cause you are unable to discharge the duties of your office, until such time as you shall resume the duties or until We signify Our further Pleasure in that behalf.
[5] Constitution Act 1990, section 1(2)
[6] Constitution Act 1990, section 2
[7] Constitution Act 1990, section 5(1)
[8] Debates of the Legislature, v108, T464
[9] The Standing Orders of the House of Keys, 14th January 1964, SO11
[10] Debates of the Legislature, v124, K21
[11] section 7
[12] section 3
[13] From December 2021 the procedural functions of the Third Clerk as set out in Standing Orders will be undertaken by the Head of Legislative Services.