Governors
1765-1863
The Governors had an important role to play in helping or, more often, hindering the movement towards reform.
During this period, the Governor was an extremely powerful figure in the Isle of Man. He was the head of the government, parliament, and judiciary, introducing legislation via the Legislative Council and setting the Budget. As an appointee of the British Crown, he was responsible for the relationship between the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man. In practice, this often meant complying with instructions from the Home Office and protecting British interests in the Island.
1765-1777 John Wood
A former captain, Wood had been appointed Governor by the Atholls, and continued in the role after Revestment. Henry Hope, with the title of Lieutenant Governor, acted as his deputy.
1777-1793 Major-General Edward Smith
A low-profile Governor, this former soldier seems to have been popular with the Manx people. He was deputised by Major Richard Dawson as his Lieutenant Governor.
1793-1830 John Murray, fourth Duke of Atholl
The Keys are no more representative of the people of Man than of the people of Peru.
John Murray, 1822
The son of the Duke who had been persuaded to sell the Isle of Man back to the English Crown, Murray petitioned Parliament in an attempt to overturn the agreement. He suggested that a compromise could be his appointment as next Governor of the Isle of Man.
1830-1832 Colonel Cornelius Smelt
Having deputised as Lieutenant Governor during Murray’s tenure, Smelt took over his duties on the Duke’s death. He died before he could formally be made Governor.
1832-1845 Major-General John Ready
If any reform in the House of Keys is found to be really wanted, representation in Parliament may be the measure of reform adopted.
Ready to the Keys, 1838
A former sailor, Ready had already been the popular Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island. The prospect of Customs assimilation with the United Kingdom announced by Ready in 1836 invigorated the reform movement, leading to a petition signed by over 3000 residents in 1838.
1845-1860 Charles Hope
…this would place very large funds at the disposal of an assembly elected by a small community, where of course personal and local interests must have great weight in the disposal of those funds. It is probable also that an assembly so elected would claim far greater and more arbitrary power than the present House has ever attempted to exercise. I have no doubt that these claims would in a very short time place an elected House of Keys at issue with the British Government…
Charles Hope to the Home Office, 1853
Lawyer and former MP for Linlithgowshire, Hope was appointed at the age of 37 with a specific brief to report on the strength of feeling in the Island over the question of reform of the House of Keys. His findings were that reform was not necessary, much to the consternation of the reform movement. In 1854, Hope negotiated a loan to improve the harbours around the Island, and particularly the Douglas breakwater. A proposal for a creosoted wooden superstructure on a foundation of loose rubble, later known as the Abernethy birdcage, is selected by the Treasury because of its low cost.
1860-1863 Francis Pigott Stainsby Conant
The former MP for Reading, Pigott was greeted upon his arrival in the Island by an ornamental arch created by Robert Fargher. Twenty-four large rust-coloured keys, together with a jar of oil and sandpaper, accompanied a huge placard with the slogan, ‘A New Hand to Scour a Rusty Bunch’. Indeed, Pigott did not enact any reforms, but this was not helped by his sudden illness and death only three years into his appointment.
l-r: Murray; Smelt; Ready; Hope; Pigott
