Governor Loch
Sir Henry Brougham Loch (1863-1882)
Having already enjoyed a successful and adventure-filled career as a diplomat, Sir Henry Brougham Loch was appointed Governor at the relatively young age of 35. Although he went on to play a pivotal role in reforming the House of Keys, he was not immediately sympathetic to the reform movement. Upon his appointment, he was presented by a petition of 3373 signatories which demanded an inquiry into the conduct of the ‘irresponsible self-elected Keys’, which he rejected.
When the question of increased taxation arose, I was not prepared to accede to it without representation; and I could not admit that her Majesty’s subjects residing in the Isle of Man were not to enjoy those rights which were enjoyed in other parts of the United Kingdom.
Loch to Sir George Grey, March 1865
Within a year Loch was faced with the problem of the trial of James Brown, which exposed many of the anachronisms of the Manx political system. Presiding over the Isle of Man Chancery Court in November 1864, Loch confirmed that the House of Keys as a legislative body had no right to punish Brown for contempt. A Manx court had now ruled against the Keys.
It was, however, the collapse of the Abernethy breakwater that was to persuade Loch of the need for reform. It was immediately clear to Loch that the design for the breakwater would be unable to withstand stormy weather. Construction had already reached the halfway stage in 1863 when a report deemed the harbour ‘wholly inadequate’, and during 1864, storms washed away the rubble foundation. Finally, in January 1865, the breakwater was swept away in a storm. Loch set about negotiating with the British Government to raise the funds needed to repair the harbour works.
In a letter dated 21st March 1865, Loch made a proposal to Sir George Grey, the Home Secretary, to increase the customs duties in the Isle of Man to British levels, under the condition that any surplus revenue accumulated was to be controlled by Tynwald for public purposes. In another letter of the same date, Loch asked Grey whether the British Government would approve of his suggestion to make the House of Keys an elected body. While the former proposal was not resolved until December of that year, the latter was agreed within a week.
…a dangerous mass of ruin in the middle of Douglas Bay, impossible to repair, and the Insular Government has no funds available for its removal.
Loch to Waddington, March 1865
After careful negotiations, Loch presented his proposals to Tynwald in March 1866. Although reform of the House of Keys was not in fact a requirement for the new financial arrangements with the UK government, Loch presented it as such to the House of Keys. After some debate, the Keys agreed to the proposals.
Loch remained Governor until 1882. During his appointment, he oversaw the development of other infrastructure necessary to support the Island’s tourist industry: harbour works in other towns, the Battery and Victoria Piers in Douglas, and what is now known as Loch Promenade.
Clockwise from top left: the Abernethy breakwater is swept away in a storm; the proclamation of the dissolution of the House of Keys on 19th March 1867; excerpt from Loch's speech at the promulgation of the House of Keys Election Act in December 1866; photograph of Loch, seated; Loch's proposals to the House of Keys as reported in the newspapers, March 1866.
