Ewan Christian (1579 – September 1655) was a Manx politician and landowner on the

Isle of Man ) , anthem = "O Land of Our Birth" , image = Isle of Man by Sentinel-2.jpg , image_map = Europe-Isle_of_Man.svg , mapsize = , map_alt = Location of the Isle of Man in Europe , map_caption = Location of the Isle of Man (green) in Europe ...

. He held the position of

deemster A Deemster ( gv, briw) is a judge in the Isle of Man. The High Court of Justice of the Isle of Man is presided over by a deemster or, in the case of the appeal division of that court, a deemster and the Judge of Appeal. The deemsters also promu ...

(the term for judges on the Isle of Man) for 51 years from 1605 until his death. He also held the position of Deputy-Governor of the Isle of Man 1634 to 1637. He was the father of controversial Manx political revolutionary and folk-hero

Illiam Dhone or (literally meaning 'Brown William' in English) (14 April 16082 January 1663), also known as William Christian, was a Manx politician and depending on viewpoint, patriot, rebel or traitor. He was a son of Ewan Christian, a deemster. In M ...

Early life and family

Ewan Christian was born at Milntown,

Lezayre Lezayre ( ; gv, Creest ny h-Ayrey), formally Kirk Christ Lezayre, is one of the seventeen historic parishes of the Isle of Man. It is located in the north of the island (part of the traditional ''North Side'' division) in the sheading of Ayre. ...

in the north of the

to William Christian and his wife in 1579. Upon inheriting the family home at Milntown at the age of 14, he spent several years in Cumbria, where he met Katherine Harrison of Bankfield,

Eastholme The Eastholme, also known as Eastholme of the Rockies, is a historic building in Cascade, near Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. History The building was built in 1886 and in operation by 1887 as a bo ...

. They had 6 children together who survived to adulthood. He also recognised his three illegitimate children with Jane Woods. Such was Christian's reputation for bolstering his family's influence that

Lord of Mann The lord of Mann ( gv, Çhiarn Vannin) is the lord proprietor and head of state of the Isle of Man. The current lord proprietor and head of state is Charles III. Before 1504 the head of state was known as King of Mann. Relationship with th ...

James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, KG (31 January 160715 October 1651) was an English nobleman, politician, and supporter of the Royalist cause in the English Civil War. Before inheriting the title in 1642 he was known as Lord Strange. He was ...

joked that:

someone in a pleasant Humour sayd that he thought the Deemster did not get so many Bastards for Lust's Sake, as in Policie, to make the Name of the Christians flourish.

Christian and Harrison's youngest son, William, better known as

, rose to prominence on the Isle of Man during the

English Civil War The English Civil War (1642–1651) was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Parliamentarians (" Roundheads") and Royalists led by Charles I ("Cavaliers"), mainly over the manner of England's governance and issues of re ...

after being appointed

Governor A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

and

Receiver-General A receiver general (or receiver-general) is an officer responsible for accepting payments on behalf of a government, and for making payments to a government on behalf of other parties. See also * Treasurer * Receiver General for Canada * Recei ...

. He was executed for treason in 1663 partially due to his involvement in the

Manx Rebellion of 1651 The Manx Rebellion of 1651 was an uprising against the ruler of the Isle of Man during the English Civil War. It was led by William Christian, better known by the epithet Illiam Dhone (Brown William), due to his dark hair. The Rebellion was mainl ...

and accusations of embezzlement of state funds. He is considered a controversial figure on the island today. The Christian family were one of the most politically influential families on the island during this period. Several of Christian's ancestors also held the position of

. Christian expanded the family home at Milntown during his lifetime, by adding embellishments such as decorative plaster ceilings and by building a library. He also acquired the estate at Unerigg, later known as

Ewanrigg Ewanrigg is a suburb of the town of Maryport, Cumbria, England, historically within Cumberland. Ewanrigg is a residential area and has a post office, a school and a few places of worship. __TOC__ Location It is near the River Ellen and is o ...

, on the coast of

Cumberland Cumberland ( ) is a historic county in the far North West England. It covers part of the Lake District as well as the north Pennines and Solway Firth coast. Cumberland had an administrative function from the 12th century until 1974. From 19 ...

around 1638. Subsequent generations of Christians would live there in later centuries.

Children with Katherine Harrison

* Mabel Christian (c. 1599 – unknown) * John Christian (1 August 1602 – 1673) * Edward Christian (1603 – c. 1654) * Robert Christian (c. 1603 - 1668) * Margery Christian (6 June 1604 – before 1654) * Ewan Christian (1606 – 20 October 1613) * William Christian (14 April 1608 – 2 January 1663) * Margaret Christian (1617–1652)

Children with Jane Woods

* William Christian (c. 1618 – c. 1706) * John Christian (c. 1620 – c. 1689) * Jane Christian (1621 – May 1694)

Politics

Christian was an important political figure on the Isle of Man during his lifetime. He held the position of deemster for 51 years after his election at the age of 26 in 1605, and served as Deputy Governor of the island from 1634 to 1637. Christian was also a noted opponent of Lord of Man n, James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby. Their dispute concerned the old feudal system of property ownership, the ''tenure of the straw,'' which the Earl wished to abolish. This system gave the tenants perpetual ownership and the right to pass their property to their children without consent of the Earl. Stanley complained that "men think their dwellings are their own ancient inheritances, and... dispose thereof without license of the Lord." Stanley wanted to reform the system and make it a lease over three subsequent generations. Christian opposed the reform and such was his influence of the island that the Earl struggled to find someone to his petition against Christian. But Stanley threatened to lease the Christian's property at

Derbyhaven Derbyhaven ( gv, Camys y Ree) ("King's Harbour" or "King's Cove") is a hamlet near Castletown in the southern parish of Malew, Isle of Man. It is located on the isthmus connecting Langness Peninsula to the rest of the island, on the bay of the s ...

Ronaldsway Ronaldsway () is a place in the parish of Malew in the south of the Isle of Man, between the village of Ballasalla and the town of Castletown. Features It is notable as the location of Isle of Man Airport and historically of RNAS Ronaldsway, to ...

to John Corrin, a descendant of a previous claimant to the estate. By way of a compromise, Christian eventually conceded and bequeathed his estate in 1643 to his third son, William, but only after his two older sons refused the offer.

Later years

Christian spent his last years living in the farmhouse that he had bequeathed to his youngest son William in Derbyhaven. The residence, known as ''Ronaldsway House'' was demolished in 1940 to accommodate the development of military airfield at Ronaldsway, now the

Isle of Man Airport Isle of Man Airport ( Manx: ''Purt Aer Vannin'', also known as Ronaldsway Airport) is the main civilian airport on the Isle of Man. It is located in the south of the island at Ronaldsway near Castletown, southwest of Douglas, the island's c ...

.Ronaldsway Farm and house, Isle of Man
. ''iMuseum''. Retrieved 26 October 2020. Although the exact date of his death is unknown, he was buried on 20 September 1655 in

Malew Malew ( ; gv, Malew) is one of the seventeen parishes of the Isle of Man. It is located in the south of the island (part of the traditional ''South Side'' division) in the sheading of Rushen. Administratively, part of the historic parish of ...

on the Isle of Man. In his will, Christian also provided for his legitimate living family members as well as for his illegitimate children by Jane Woods.

References

{{Reflist 1655 deaths 1579 births Manx politicians Manx judges