Lieutenant Colonel Dr Edgar John Mann MB (24 June 1926 – 21 June 2013) was a British politician, and Chairman of the Executive Council of 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 ...

, the then head of the island's Government.

Early life and career

Born on 24 June 1926 in London, he was educated at the

Friern Barnet Grammar School The Friern Barnet Grammar School was a small independent day school for boys located on Friern Barnet Road, North London. It was later absorbed into the co-educational Woodside Park School foundation which was later renamed The North London Int ...

and King's College London. He went on to become a Medical Officer, a general practitioner and a lieutenant colonel in the

RAMC The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all Army personnel and their families, in war and in peace. The RAMC, the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, the Royal Army Dental Corps a ...

, commanding field ambulances in the Territorial Army. Upon moving to the Isle of Man, he became a village commissioner (similar to a parish councillor) at

Laxey Laxey ( gv, Laksaa) is a village on the east coast of the Isle of Man. Its name derives from the Old Norse ''Laxa'' meaning 'Salmon River'. Its key distinguishing features are its three working vintage railways and the largest working waterwhe ...

in 1974, before standing for the

House of Keys The House of Keys () is the directly elected lower house of Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man, the other branch being the Legislative Council. History The oldest known reference to the name is in a document of 1417, written in L ...

for

Garff Garff () is one of the six sheadings of the Isle of Man. It is located on the east of the island (part of the traditional ''South Side'' division) and consists of the two historic parishes of Lonan and Maughold. Before 1796 it also included t ...

in 1976. He was immediately appointed Chairman of various government Boards (forerunners to the Departments). In 1981, he became Chair of the Finance Board, in effect the Treasury Minister, and then in 1985 was elevated to the Legislative Council and became Chairman of the Executive Council. In 1986, the ministerial system was brought in following the General Election. Dr Mann decided to stand for the

, as he knew ministers would be expected to be democratically accountable. He also resigned his seat in the Legislative Council on the eve of the election, although this was not legally required. He was not elected, and thus lost his seat in

Tynwald Tynwald ( gv, Tinvaal), or more formally, the High Court of Tynwald ( gv, Ard-whaiyl Tinvaal) or Tynwald Court, is the legislature of the Isle of Man. It consists of two chambers, known as the branches of Tynwald: the directly elected House of ...

, despite being favoured to become the new

Chief Minister A chief minister is an elected or appointed head of government of – in most instances – a sub-national entity, for instance an administrative subdivision or federal constituent entity. Examples include a state (and sometimes a union terri ...

. At the 1990 by-election, he regained his Garff seat and held it until he was re-elevated to the Legislative Council in 1995. In 1992, he became acting

Speaker of the House of Keys The Speaker of the House of Keys () is the principal officer of the House of Keys, the lower house of the Isle of Man legislature. The Speaker is elected from the membership of the House at its first sitting after an election. He is responsibl ...

and in 1996 Minister of Education.

Personal life

Mann was married to Joan (née Redstone) from 1951; they had five sons and two daughters together, as well as 16 grandchildren. Mann died on 21 June 2013 and his funeral was held in the Lonan Parish Church in the Isle of Man.

Governmental positions

*Chairman of the Broadcasting Commission, 1978–80 *Member of the Executive Council of the Isle of Man, 1980–86 *Chairman of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, 1980–81 *Chairman of the Finance Board, 1981–85 *Chairman of the

Financial Supervision Commission The Financial Supervision Commission (FSC) ( gv, Barrantee Oaseirys Argidoil) was the financial regulator of the Isle of Man. The commission was established in 1983. The Chairman was previously a Member of Tynwald until legislation forbade this ...

, 1983–85 * Chairman of the Executive Council, 1985–86 * Minister of Education, 1996–99.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mann, Edgar Manx people 1926 births 2013 deaths Chairmen of the Executive Council of the Isle of Man English politicians Royal Army Medical Corps officers Alumni of King's College London People educated at Friern Barnet Grammar School