John Cosnahan

John Cosnahan (1754–1819) was the first High Bailiff of Douglas, Isle of Man, and Deemster. He was the eldest son of Hugh Cosnahan and Eleanor Finch^[1] (1753–1799)^{[whose are these dates?]}.

In 1781, as a member of the House of Keys,^[2] he was sent to London to speak on behalf of the Island. He spoke so powerfully in the House of Lords on 13 June that year that he helped prevent a Bill proposed by the Duke of Athol^[3] to pay extra compensation to the Duke for handing the Island over to the Crown.

In 1808 he became a Water Bailiff or Judge of the Admiralty Court.^[1][4]

In the last few months of his life he was made a Deemster or stipendiary magistrate, although his appointment was delayed by the opposition of the Duke.

Family

John married his cousin Catherine Finch and they had eight children, a daughter and seven sons, but none of them produced an heir.^[5] His children were:

• John Finch (1794–1885), Lawyer, unmarried
• Michael (1790–1883), Captain R.N., served as a midshipman under Nelson, and later earned distinction in the Crimean War. He died aged 85^{[does not agree dates given]}, and is buried at St Peter's in Thanet. He was married, but childless.
• Hugh (d. 1822), Captain R.N. He was married and had two sons. One, Charles, died in infancy. The other, George, was in the Navy, but while still a midshipman was drowned.^[6]
• Augustus died young and unmarried.
• Philip (1793/4-1814) lived a short but eventful life. As a midshipman in the Navy he was aboard HMS Shannon and was mentioned in dispatches following the capture of USS Chesapeake.^[7] He was drowned in Liverpool Bay and was buried in his uncle's vault in St James, Liverpool.
• James Mark (1794–1817), advocate, and took over his father's office. He died, however, just before his father, and was buried at Braddan.
• Mark James (1793–1812) entered the service of the East India Company (military branch) and died in India.