Thomas Kneen
Encyclopedia
Thomas Kneen was His Majesty's Clerk of the Rolls for the Isle of Man
, a Member of the House of Keys
for Glenfaba
, and Captain of the Parish
of Onchan
Kneen was brought up in a rural and agriculture background in Andreas
. He was educated at Ramsey Grammar School
, and subsequently at King William's College
. Upon completing his school education he was articled to Alfred Adams and Douglas advocate. He was then admitted to the Manx Bar in 1877 at the age of 24 and commenced practice in Ramsey
, and soon obtained a reputation as a sound lawyer. In 1880 upon the elevation of Alfred Adams to Clerk of the Rolls
, Dickinson invited him to become his partner in one of the largest legal practices in the Isle of Man. His rival-at the Bar was the Attorney General
.
Kneen also took a considerable interest in politics. In this respect he first came to prominence by persuading the rural electors of the insufficient representation of the town of Douglas
in the House of Keys
. In 1892 he was returned unopposed to the House of Keys
to fill the vacancy in the constituency of Glenfaba
. His time in the House was short as his legal duties took up his time and he resigned in 1895. In 1895 he was appointed Captain of the Parish of Onchan, an office he held until his death.
In 1899 Deemster
John Gill
died and Kneen succeeded him as Second Deemster. He then became First Deemster in 1900 when Deemster Sir James Gell was appointed to succeed the Sir Alured Dumbell
as Clerk of the Rolls. Then in 1905 he became Clerk of the Rolls and senior judge of the Manx High Court on Sir James Gell's death. In this judicial capacity he presided in the Chancery Division.
Kneen was also during his time as Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls a Member of the Legislative Council ex officio and had conservative political views. He was Deputy Governor in 1905 and 1915.
He was also the Chairman of the Trustees of the Estate of Henry Bloom Noble, was instrumental in the building of the Isle of Man Hospital, a trustee of King William's College and a Justice of the Peace (in fact Chairman of the Justices).
Thomas Kneen died at home in 1916 and was the last Clerk of the Rolls not to be simultaneously First Deemster, as the offices were merged following his death.
Clerk of the Rolls
The Clerk of the Rolls is a judge and Head of the Judiciary in the Isle of Man.This position was formerly distinct from that of the Deemsters but now the Clerk of the Rolls is held jointly with the office of First Deemster....
, a Member of the House of Keys
Member of the House of Keys
Member of the House of Keys, or MHK is the title given to a person who has been elected into the House of Keys, the lower house of Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man. There are twenty-four Members of the House of Keys. Elections are held every five years; the last election took place in...
for Glenfaba
Glenfaba
Glenfaba is one of six sheadings in the Isle of Man. It lies on the west of the island and consists of the parishes of German and Patrick. Historically, Glenfaba also included the parish of Marown toward the centre of the island. Geographically the area also includes the town of Peel which is...
, and Captain of the Parish
Captain of the Parish
The Captain of the Parish is an official in each parish in the Isle of Man—formerly the title was Captain of the Parish Militia, but it is now only a titular honour...
of Onchan
Onchan
Onchan , is a village in the parish of Onchan on the Isle of Man. It is at the north end of Douglas Bay. Although administratively a village, it has the second largest population on the island, after Douglas, with which it forms a conurbation....
Kneen was brought up in a rural and agriculture background in Andreas
Andreas (parish)
Andreas is a parish in the Sheading of Ayre lying in the north of the Isle of Man. It is one of three parishes along with Bride and Lezayre in the sheading of Ayre.-Geography:The parish stretches from Lhen Moar, along the north-western coast to Bride...
. He was educated at Ramsey Grammar School
Ramsey Grammar School
Ramsey Grammar School is a coeducational comprehensive secondary school located in Ramsey, on the Isle of Man.A grammar school has existed in Ramsey since 1681. It moved to Lezayre Road in 1933 and was housed in a building that now forms the east building of the present school...
, and subsequently at King William's College
King William's College
King William's College is a leading world International Baccalaureate HMC independent school for ages 3 to 18, situated near Castletown on the Isle of Man...
. Upon completing his school education he was articled to Alfred Adams and Douglas advocate. He was then admitted to the Manx Bar in 1877 at the age of 24 and commenced practice in Ramsey
Ramsey, Isle of Man
Ramsey is a town in the north of the Isle of Man. It is the second largest town on the island after Douglas. Its population is 7,309 according to the 2006 census . It has one of the biggest harbours on the island, and has a prominent derelict pier, called the Queen's Pier. It was formerly one of...
, and soon obtained a reputation as a sound lawyer. In 1880 upon the elevation of Alfred Adams to Clerk of the Rolls
Clerk of the Rolls
The Clerk of the Rolls is a judge and Head of the Judiciary in the Isle of Man.This position was formerly distinct from that of the Deemsters but now the Clerk of the Rolls is held jointly with the office of First Deemster....
, Dickinson invited him to become his partner in one of the largest legal practices in the Isle of Man. His rival-at the Bar was the Attorney General
Attorney General (Isle of Man)
The Attorney General of the Isle of Man has an ex officio seat in the Legislative Council and is the Government's top legal adviser.The Attorney General is a Crown officer, rather than a member of the Isle of Man Government...
.
Kneen also took a considerable interest in politics. In this respect he first came to prominence by persuading the rural electors of the insufficient representation of the town of Douglas
Douglas, Isle of Man
right|thumb|250px|Douglas Promenade, which runs nearly the entire length of beachfront in Douglasright|thumb|250px|Sea terminal in DouglasDouglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of 26,218 people . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and a sweeping...
in the House of Keys
House of Keys
The House of Keys is the directly elected lower branch of Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man, the other branch being the Legislative Council....
. In 1892 he was returned unopposed to the House of Keys
House of Keys
The House of Keys is the directly elected lower branch of Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man, the other branch being the Legislative Council....
to fill the vacancy in the constituency of Glenfaba
Glenfaba
Glenfaba is one of six sheadings in the Isle of Man. It lies on the west of the island and consists of the parishes of German and Patrick. Historically, Glenfaba also included the parish of Marown toward the centre of the island. Geographically the area also includes the town of Peel which is...
. His time in the House was short as his legal duties took up his time and he resigned in 1895. In 1895 he was appointed Captain of the Parish of Onchan, an office he held until his death.
In 1899 Deemster
Deemster
A deemster 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...
John Gill
John Gill (judge)
John Frederick Gill was a Second Deemster of the Isle of Man.Deemster Gill was born in Sicily but educated at King William's College. On leaving the College, he studied law with his second cousin Sir James Gell and was admitted to the Bar in 1864...
died and Kneen succeeded him as Second Deemster. He then became First Deemster in 1900 when Deemster Sir James Gell was appointed to succeed the Sir Alured Dumbell
Alured Dumbell
Sir Alured Dumbell MLC was Clerk of the Rolls of the Isle of Man and the most senior judge there.Dumbell was the son of the well known banker, lawyer and politician George Dumbell MHK and was educated at a private school in Douglas. He then entered the firm of Harris and Adams as a law student...
as Clerk of the Rolls. Then in 1905 he became Clerk of the Rolls and senior judge of the Manx High Court on Sir James Gell's death. In this judicial capacity he presided in the Chancery Division.
Kneen was also during his time as Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls a Member of the Legislative Council ex officio and had conservative political views. He was Deputy Governor in 1905 and 1915.
He was also the Chairman of the Trustees of the Estate of Henry Bloom Noble, was instrumental in the building of the Isle of Man Hospital, a trustee of King William's College and a Justice of the Peace (in fact Chairman of the Justices).
Thomas Kneen died at home in 1916 and was the last Clerk of the Rolls not to be simultaneously First Deemster, as the offices were merged following his death.
Offices of State
- Clerk of the RollsClerk of the RollsThe Clerk of the Rolls is a judge and Head of the Judiciary in the Isle of Man.This position was formerly distinct from that of the Deemsters but now the Clerk of the Rolls is held jointly with the office of First Deemster....
, 1905-1926 - First Deemster, 1900-1905
- Second Deemster, 1899-1900
- Member of the House of KeysMember of the House of KeysMember of the House of Keys, or MHK is the title given to a person who has been elected into the House of Keys, the lower house of Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man. There are twenty-four Members of the House of Keys. Elections are held every five years; the last election took place in...
for GlenfabaGlenfabaGlenfaba is one of six sheadings in the Isle of Man. It lies on the west of the island and consists of the parishes of German and Patrick. Historically, Glenfaba also included the parish of Marown toward the centre of the island. Geographically the area also includes the town of Peel which is...
, 1892-1895