Lieutenant governor of the Isle of Man
Contributors to Wikimedia projects
/static/apple-touch/wikipedia.png
Personal representative of the British monarch in Isle of Man

Lieutenant Governor

of the Isle of ManFo-chiannoort Vannin

Lhiass-chiannoort Vannin

since 29 September 2021 ( )

Lieutenant GovernorStyleHis ExcellencyReports toLord of MannResidenceGovernment House, Isle of ManNominatorIsle of Man GovernmentAppointerLord of MannTerm length5 yearsFormation1773First holderHenry HopeDeputyFirst Deemster Andrew CorlettSalary£108,208Websitewww.gov.im

The lieutenant governor of the Isle of Man (Manx: Fo-chiannoort Vannin or lhiass-chiannoort vannin) is the Lord of Mann's official personal representative in the Isle of Man. He has the power to grant royal assent and is styled "His Excellency".

No Manx-born person has ever been appointed lieutenant governor, although Manx-born first deemsters (ex officio deputy governors) have taken on the role temporarily during an interregnum between governors, and during periods when the lieutenant governor is off-island.

The official residence of the governor is Government House, Governor's Road, Onchan.

In the past, the lieutenant governor wielded considerable judicial, fiscal and executive power on the island.[1] However, the office lost his prerogatives as Head of the Judiciary in 1921,[2] as Head of Government in 1961,[3] as president of the Legislative Council in 1980 and finally as president of Tynwald in 1990.[2] Today the role of lieutenant governor is essentially ceremonial, although certain powers under Isle of Man legislation do still fall to the governor or governor-in-council (a decision on the advice, and with the approval of, the Council of Ministers).

History

[edit]

It was often asked[according to whom?] what was the proper title of the chief executive of the island, and whether there were any words in the commissions of the lieutenant governors which suspended their functions during the presence in the island of the lord of Mann or a governor of the Isle of Man.[4] Such a question was considered in 1877 by the eminent Manx advocate James Gell,[4] who referred to a search he undertook at the Rolls Office, the results of which are included in a list of 83 appointments of governors between 1595 and 1863. Not all appointments during that period are listed in this article as it was difficult to trace appointments prior to 1639; at about that time the practice began of keeping a distinct book for the enrolment of commissions. In addition, after that date certain commissions were also omitted to be enrolled. For instance, no record of the appointment of the 4th Duke of Atholl as governor in 1793 could be traced.[4]

Historically the designations "governor", "lieutenant" (that is, the king's or queen's or lord of Mann's lieutenant) and "captain" were synonymous.[4] Only one reference to deputy lieutenant is made, that of Governor Horton's appointment in 1725.[4] In some commissions expressions designating the office, such as governor; captain general and commander-in-chief; chief governor and commander-in-chief; chief governor; and governor-in-chief and captain general; may well imply the conferring of powers, civil and military, though the designation given may possibly affect the rank of the person appointed, as between himself and others holding similar or analogous appointments.[4]

If the sovereign intended not to bestow the full powers of a governor on a specific person, then the limitations had to be expressed on the face of the commission. However no record of such an amendment exists, and although any legal power exercised could not be questioned as to its legality by any subject, a governor as between himself and the Crown, would be controlled as to the exercise of his powers by his instructions and would therefore be accountable for any injudicious use of them.[4]

A lieutenant governor or deputy governor having a commission with no express limitation to their powers, could perform all the functions of a governor while his powers were in force.[4]

James Gell twice held the office of governor of the Isle of Man: first during the illness of Lord Henniker, Gell being appointed deputy and presiding at Tynwald; and second during the interregnum between Lord Henniker's death and the appointment of Lord Raglan.[1][4]

Whilst Gell was appointed deputy governor on the first occasion, he was appointed acting governor in the second instance, an important distinction. The Dukes of Atholl were the last supreme governors of the Isle of Man, until the Isle of Man Purchase Act 1765, also known as the Act of Revestment. All governors since then had been lieutenant governors, but Gell's appointment as acting governor was on a par with the position of the Duke of Atholl, and he had the right to appoint a lieutenant governor had he so wished. So his office as acting governor carried with it greater authority than that of lieutenant governor; this fact Gell himself pointed out to the Home Office.[1]

The term "lieutenant governor" was not used before the Act of Revestment in 1765;[4] the term "deputy governor" was used instead.[4] The appointments of Peter Legh (1596), Ratcliffe Gerrard (1639), Roger Nowell (1660), William Sacheverell (1692), Thomas Huddlestone (1700) and Alexander Horne (1713) as deputy governors can therefore be seen as temporary appointments during a vacancy.[4]

Lieutenant governors and deputy governors could exercise the powers of a governor of the Isle of Man in one respect: they could appoint deputies.[4] In the cases of Charles Stanley (1702) and Bishop Isaac Barrow (1774) this prerogative was specifically granted; however over time it became common custom amongst successive lieutenant governors. This would allow governors to appoint deputies for specific periods or purposes, such as during the governor's absence on specified occasions, or during his illness when not absent; the list below illustrates this and shows the great number of appointments made by governors of deputies during their absence.[4] For instance the various appointments of Deemsters McYlrea and Taubman can be seen as examples of appointments for executing judicial functions.[4]

Before the Act of Revestment, deputies were expressly appointed to act during absence, except in one case: that of Bishop Isaac Barrow in 1664.[4] In this case, the deputy governor, Roger Nowell, acted whilst Governor Barrow was on the island, sometimes along with him and sometimes solely. This was an exceptional case; it was probably not intended that the Bishop have more to do with temporal affairs than was absolutely necessary.[4]

After revestment, the appointments of lieutenant governors Henry Hope (1773), Richard Dawson (1775 and 1777), Alexander Shaw (1790), Henry Murray (1804) and Cornelius Smelt (1805) were also expressly held during the absence of the governors.[4] The appointments of Lieutenant Governors John Ready (1832), Charles Hope (1845) and Francis Pigott Stainsby Conant (1860), say nothing as to the presence of a governor-in-chief, and these three persons were therefore appointed to be "merely" lieutenant governors. It may be the case with the appointment of Colonel Ready that it was not intended for him to take the office of governor-in-chief, and therefore no allusion was made in the commissions of the lieutenant governors to their office. However, it appears that without any words expressly suspending the functions of a lieutenant governor, they would as a matter of course be suspended.[4]

Appointment

[edit]

Before 2010 the lieutenant governor was appointed by the Crown on the advice of a panel led by the government of the United Kingdom. In July 2010 the government of the Isle of Man announced[5] that the next lieutenant governor would be appointed on the advice of an entirely local panel, comprising the chief minister, the president of Tynwald and the first deemster. The new procedure was used for the first time a few months later to choose Sir Paul Haddacks's successor.

Proposed change to title

[edit]

In October 2005 Tynwald sought to change the title of the lieutenant governor to Crown Commissioner.[6] This proposal was sent to the British Department of Constitutional Affairs for submission to Queen Elizabeth II, Lord of Mann, for approval. However, in April 2006, after much public disapproval, Tynwald reversed its proposal and withdrew its request for royal assent. Thus the lieutenant governor's title remained unchanged.

List of governors

[edit]

List of governors[7] Date appointed Appointee name Appointed office By whom appointed Remarks 1 Aug 1595 Thomas Garret (or Gerrard) Captain Queen Elizabeth I Appointment pending the dispute as to the succession to the island in the House of Stanley.[4] 3 Jul 1596 Peter Legh Captain and governor Lord Keeper and other offices of state for Queen Elizabeth To act during the absence from the island of Thomas Garret.[4] 30 Mar 1639 Ratcliffe Gerrard Deputy governor Lord of Mann (Lord Strange; later, 7th Earl of Derby) To act during the absence from the island by Sir Charles Gerrard, governor.[4] 20 Jul 1639 Ffoulks Hunckers Captain and governor Lord of Mann; 7th Earl of Derby In place of Sir Charles Gerrard.[4] 20 Jun 1640 John Greenhaigh In place of Sir Ffoulks Hunckers.[4] 12 Nov 1652 John Sharples Deputy governor Commissioners of Lord Fairfax, to whom the Isle of Man had been granted during the term of the Commonwealth of England To be deputy governor as to the Civil Magistracie thereof. [This appointment confers limited powers and excluded military authority].[4] 16 Jul 1660 Roger Nowell Governor, captain-general and commander-in-chief Lord of Mann (Charles, Earl of Derby) Appointment following the restoration of the monarchy.[4] 16 Jul 1660 Richard Stevenson Deputy governor Charles, Earl of Derby To sit during the absence of Governor Roger Nowell.[4] 11 Dec 1662 Henry Nowell Governor Roger Nowell To act during the absence of the governor.[4] 18 Sep 1663 Henry Nowell 7th Earl of Derby To act during pleasure, in place of Thomas Stanley.[4] 31 May 1664 Isaac Barrow Governor Lord of Mann (Charles Stanley, 8th Earl of Derby) To hold and exercise the said Office by himself, or by Henry Nowell, his deputy or some other sufficient person who he should think fit [This was looked upon as an exceptional appointment, for the Deputy Nowell acted sometimes alone, and sometimes along with the governor - Mills Statute p. 137].[4] 28 Jul 1673 Henry Nowell William, Earl of Derby (by his Guardian, Duke of Ormonde) [4] 10 Apr 1677 Henry Stanley Lord of Mann (William Stanley, 9th Earl of Derby) 13 Apr 1678 Robert Heywood 16 Mar 1690/1 Roger Kenyon 6 Apr 1692 William Sacheverell Deputy governor William, Earl of Derby To take on him the whole government, during pleasure [probably governorship vacant].[4] 10 Oct 1692

Richard Stevenson (Water Bailiff)

John Rowe (Clerk of the Rolls)

Deputy Governor Sacheverell The appointment is stated on the face of it to be made by order of the Right Honourable the Lord of this Isle [This is quite remarkable. Deputies appointed by a deputy, but apparently made by special authority].[4] 9 May 1693 William Sacheverell Governor Lord of Mann (William Stanley, 9th Earl of Derby) [4] 15 Jun 1695 Nicholas Sankey [4] 28 Jul 1696

John Rowe

Peter Heywood

Deemster John Parr

Deputy governor Governor Sankey To act jointly.[4] 30 Oct 1700 Thomas Huddlestone Lord of Mann (William Stanley, 9th Earl of Derby) To take upon him the whole government during pleasure. [This was probably a temporary appointment during a vacancy of governorship].[4] 10 Mar 1700/01 James Cranstoun [4] 21 Nov 1702 Charles Zedenno Stanley Chief governor and commander-in-chief Lord of Mann (James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby) To exercise office by himself, or his sufficient deputy or deputies, during pleasure.[4] 3 Dec 1702 Robert Mawdesley Deputy governor Governor Stanley During pleasure.[4] 30 Oct 1702–03

[clarification needed] Deemster John Parr During absence of Deputy Governor Mawdesley.[4] 12 Jul 1703

John Rowe

Christopher Parker (Receiver General)

To act during the absence of Deputy Governor Mawdesley, on the departure of Deputy Governor Parr, who had been called by the Lord of England on weighty business.[4] 25 Nov 1703 Robert Mawdesley Lord of Mann (James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby) Confirmation of Mawdesley's previous appointment as deputy governor by Governor Stanley. [This confirmation seems to have amounted to an appointment as governor, which he styled himself afterwards].[4] 17 Jul 1712 Deemster John Parr Governor Mawdesley To act during the governor's absence in England.[4] 20 May 1713 Deemster John Parr To act during governor's absence from the Isle of Man.[4] 18 Jul 1713

Charles Zedenno Stanley

Alexander Horne

Chief governor & deputy governor Lord of Mann (James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby) The deputy to act in the absence of the governor.[4] 17 Oct 1713

John Rowe

William Sedden (Water Bailiff)

Deputy governor Governor Stanley To act jointly during the absence of Governor and Deputy Governor Horne.[4] 13 Oct 1714 Deputy Governor Horne To act during the absence of Deputy Governor Horne in England. (This is an appointment of deputies by a deputy.) 25 Jun 1718 To act during Deputy Governor Horne's absence from the Isle of Man.[4] [See above.] 9 Jul 1718 Capt. Alexander Horne Governor & commander-in-chief Lord of Mann (James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby) [4] 27 Jun 1719

John Rowe

William Sedden (Water Bailiff)

Deputy governor Governor Horne To serve during Governor Horne's absence.[4] 1 Jul 1719 25 Jun 1721 23 Apr 1723 John Sanforth (Water Bailiff) 29 Apr 1723 Deemster Daniel McYlrea To act jointly with Deputy Governor Sanforth during Governor Horne's absence.[4] 22 May 1723

John Sanforth (Water Bailiff)

Deemster Daniel McYlrea

John Rowe

If one be sick or absent, the other two to act jointly. (This was probably a temporary appointment during vacancy in governorship.)[4] 3 Oct 1723 John Lloyd Governor or lieutenant Lord of Mann (James Stanley, 10th Earl of Derby) [4] 27 Feb 1724/5

John Rowe

Nicholas Christian

John Sanforth (Water Bailiff)

Deputy governor This was probably a temporary appointment during a vacancy in governorship.[4] 14 Sep 1725 Thomas Horton Deputy lieutenant governor [4] 12 May 1726

James Horton

John Brownell

Maj. Gen. John Woods

Deputy governor Governor Horton To act during governor's absence from the Isle of Man. If one be sick the other two to act jointly.[4] 9 Jul 1727 13 Jul 1727 12 Jul 1728 5 Mar 1728/9 To act during governor's absence from the Isle of Man.[4] 25 Jun 1731

James Horton

Deemster Charles Moore

30 Jun 1732 30 Jun 1733

James Horton

William Stonier

Deemster Charles Moore

To act during governor's absence from the Isle of Man. If one be sick the other two to act jointly.[4] 29 Apr 1734 To act during governor's absence from Isle of Man. If one be sick or absent, other two to act jointly.[4] 30 Jul 1734 [4] 26 Dec 1734

William Stonier

Deemster Charles Moore

To act during absence of governor. 8 Oct 1735

Deemster Charles Moore

Deemster Daniel McYlrea

To act during governor's absence.[4] 9 Mar 1736 James Murray, 2nd Duke of Atholl Governor and commander-in-chief On the death of 10th Earl of Derby.[4] 1736–37

Deemster Charles Moore

Deemster Daniel McYlrea

Deputy governor Governor Murray To act during governor's absence from island.[4] 7 Apr 1744

Deemster John Taubman

Deemster Daniel McYlrea

To act during governor's absence from island. Each empowered to act during incapacity by sickness or other impediment of the other.[4] 1 Jun 1744 Patrick Lindesay Governor and commander-in-chief Lord of Mann James, 2nd Duke of Atholl [4] 27 May 1746

Deemster John Taubman

Deemster Daniel McYlrea

Deputy governor Governor Lindesay The commission states that the governor, by his present indisposition, is disabled from attending the Courts on the next Circuit (that is, of the Sheading or Common Law Courts). The deputies to act during the governor's illness. (This is a case where deputies were appointed whilst the governor was on the island.)[4] 14 Jul 1749

Deemster John Taubman

Deemster Daniel McYlrea

The commission states that the governor by his present indisposition in unable to execute his post and office. The deputies to act during his illness. (Similar to the case preceding, deputies were appointed whilst governor was on the island).[4] 2 May 1751 Basil Cochrane Governor and commander-in-chief Lord of Mann James, 2nd Duke of Atholl [4] 17 May 1760

Deemster John Taubman

Daniel McYlrea (Receiver General)

Deputy governor Basil Cochrane, governor To act during governor's absence from the Isle of Man. Each empowered to act in case of sickness or other impediment of the other.[4] 26 Mar 1761 2 Jun 1761 The governor being ex officio be jointly chancellors with respect to the causes to be heard.[4] 8 Jul 1761 To act during the governor's absence from the island. Each empowered to act in case of sickness or incapacity of others.[4] 22 Jul 1761 John Wood Governor and commander-in-chief Lord of Mann James, 2nd Duke of Atholl [4] 1 Oct 1763 Daniel McYlrea (Receiver General) Deputy governor Governor Wood The commission states that the governor by his present indisposition is rendered incapable of presiding at the Sheading Courts which are to be held at Peel.[4] 18 May 1764 Daniel McYlrea (Receiver General) [4] 16 Dec 1764 John Wood Governor and commander-in-chief Lady of Mann (Charlotte Murray, Duchess of Atholl with the concurrence of her husband) This is a re-appointment following the accession to the throne of King George III.[4] Revestment 21 Jun 1765 John Wood Governor-in-chief and captain general King George III This is a re-appointment following the Revestment.[4] 6 Aug 1773 Henry Hope Lieutenant governor To act in the absence of Governor Wood and to perform the duties of governor *First appointment of lieutenant governor.[4] 13 Jul 1775 Richard Dawson [4] 31 May 1777 Edward Smith Governor-in-chief & captain general Appointed following the death of Governor Wood.[4] 31 May 1777 Richard Dawson Lieutenant governor [4] 26 Nov 1790 Alexander Shaw [4] 14 Feb 1793 John Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl Governor-in-chief & captain general [4] 4 Aug 1804 Henry Murray Lieutenant governor John Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl The commission states: "Whereas the Honourable Alexander Shaw, last Lieutenant Governor of this Isle, hath resigned the said office of Lieutenant Governor, and no other person hath yet been appointed by His Majesty to fill the same: And whereas I find it necessary to remove forthwith from the said Isle to attend public business in Great Britain." The lieutenant governor is appointed to act during the absence of the governor-in-chief or until His Majesty's pleasure be known. [This is the only appointment of a lieutenant governor made by a governor of the Isle of Man since the Revestment].[4] 8 Jun 1805 Cornelius Smelt King George III Appointment in like terms as Lieutenant Governor Dawson's appointment in 1777.[4] 1 Dec 1832 John Ready King William IV The appointment is simply to be lieutenant governor during pleasure.[4] 21 Nov 1837 John Ready Queen Victoria New appointment following the accession of Queen Victoria.[4] 8 Aug 1845 Charles Hope [4] 13 Sep 1860 Mark Hildesley Quayle, Clerk of the Rolls To act as deputy governor to exercise all functions and powers of such office until a lieutenant governor shall have been appointed.[4] 20 Oct 1860 Francis Pigott Stainsby Conant Similar appointment as Lieutenant Governors Ready and Hope.[4] 28 Jan 1863 Mark Hildesley Quayle, Clerk of the Rolls To act as deputy governor to exercise all functions and powers of such office until a lieutenant governor shall have been appointed.[4] 29 Jan 1863 Henry Loch To act as lieutenant governor during pleasure.[4] 24 Apr 1882 Spencer Walpole 1893 Joseph West Ridgeway 1895 John Henniker-Major, 5th Baron Henniker Jul 1902 James Gell, Clerk of the Rolls Deputy governor King Edward VII To act as such during the indisposition of Lieutenant Governor Henniker. Appointed deputy governor in the first place. Oct 1902 Acting governor Following the death of Lieutenant Governor Henniker. (Office therefore as acting governor carried with it greater authority than that of lieutenant governor.) 1902 George Fitzroy Henry Somerset, 3rd Baron Raglan Lieutenant governor 1919 William Fry King George V 1928 Claude Hill 1932 Montagu Sherard Dawes Butler 1937 William Spencer Leveson-Gower, 4th Earl Granville King George VI 1945 Geoffrey Rhodes Bromet 1952 Ambrose Dundas Flux Dundas Queen Elizabeth II 1959 Ronald Herbert Garvey 1966 Peter Hyla Gawne Stallard 1974 John Warburton Paul 1980 Nigel Cecil 1985 Laurence New 1990 Laurence Jones 1995 Timothy Daunt 2000 Ian David Macfadyen Sep 2005 Michael Kerruish, First Deemster Deputy governor Acting during vacancy. Oct 2005 Michael Kerruish 2005 Paul Haddacks Lieutenant governor 2011 Adam Wood 2016 Richard Gozney 2021 John Lorimer King Charles III

References

[edit]

See also

[edit]

Politics portal