Sir John Brown Bolton
Title: Sir
Epithet: MHK, MLC, champion of low taxation policies (1902-1980)
Record type: Biographies
Biography: From 'New Manx Worthies' (2006):
John Brown Bolton, always known as 'JB', the eldest of four sons of a Primitive Methodist minister, was born in Norfolk in 1902 and received his education at Hull Grammar School. At the age of seventeen he was under training as an accountant in Keighley when his father was transferred to a post in Ramsey. John and his brothers followed him to the Island. Continuing his studies, he was articled to Mr B. Sugden and in 1924 qualified as an Incorporated Accountant (later FCA); for a while he remained in Mr Sugden's employ and whilst there met his future wife, Mary Smith.
In 1928 he established his own business practice in Athol Street; from this point on and over a period of some 40 years he dedicated himself to the constitutional and financial advancement of the Island. Both as a successful and entrepreneurial accountant and in high profile public service, 34 years of which were in the Manx legislature, he was to leave his mark. His role in the development of the Island was recognised in 1973 with an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List and again in 1977 when he became a Knight Bachelor in the Queen's Silver Jubilee and Birthday Honours List 'for public services in the Isle of Man'.
His long career in public service began in 1940, when he was co-opted to Douglas Corporation and served the town as a councillor until he was elected to the House of Keys for North Douglas in 1946 as a member of the Manx People's Political Association, which stood for the promotion of private enterprise on the Island. He was to hold his seat in the House for the next fifteen years, regardless of the fact that his strong belief in what he represented did not always go down well with voters. It was this strong-minded attitude which may well have lost him his seat in 1962. However, he was recognised for his ability and the Lieutenant Governor had little hesitation in inviting him to serve on the Legislative Council as Governor's Appointee in the same year. He served in this capacity until 1970 when the Keys elected him to continue serving on the Legislative Council which he did until his retirement in 1979.
John Bolton was to serve with distinction in whatever office he held. Amongst others these included chairman of the Finance Board, member of the Executive Council, chairman of the Income Tax Commission, member of the Common Market and Common Purse Arrangement Committees and the Standing Committee on the Common Interests of the Isle of Man and the United Kingdom. Despite the demands on his time and expertise he maintained a successful accountancy practice and helped and advised in the early days of companies which have since become household names on the Island.
Although his was a life of almost total commitment, he still found time to pursue personal hobbies; motorcycling, golf and horse riding figured largely. Persuaded onto various committees, he became president of Douglas Golf Club, the Peveril Motorcycle and Light Car Club and also the Scooter Club. He was an avid student of social history and, true to his upbringing, was a regular church-goer, attending St Andrew's Church where he was organist for 25 years. Prior to 1925 he had also been a local preacher in the Primitive Methodist Church.
Although not of Manx birth, when called a 'comeover' by a Manx-born member of the Keys, he replied with good humour that he had 'come over' before the member was born and, in fact, had been at his christening. His greatest achievements were the abolition of surtax in 1962 when he was chairman of the Finance Board (often referred to as Chancellor of the Island's Exchequer) and the brokering of a special relationship between the Isle of Man and the EEC. His contribution to the development of a climate which has allowed the Island's financial sector to flourish cannot be denied, though his critics may feel that this development has led to a weakening in Manx culture with an influx of new residents and businesses. In his own words, though, as well as the money and employment that would be generated by the financial sector, 'it is not going to interfere with the environment, like factories with big chimneys' - something for which the Island must be thankful.
Sir John's political career spanned enormous changes in the Island's constitution and prosperity. He had little time for reactionaries and when nearing retirement in 1979 spoke of Tynwald as he found it in 1946 in far from nostalgic terms:
'There was no health service, no social security, no Executive Council, the Government Secretary was also the Government Treasurer and the Governor was the Government. It was reckoned that the House of Keys was the official opposition in 1946.'
He had his critics, particularly amongst those who did not know him, but he also had many friends. He was a courageous politician with an acute sense of humour, who stood with the strength of his convictions, never currying favour when it meant going against his beliefs or backing away in the face of criticism. Neither did he shrink from the pressures or threats that can accompany public life.
He died a year after retiring from public office, leaving a widow, two children and eleven grandchildren. The thriving financial sector we find on the Isle of Man today is John Bolton's legacy.
Biography written by Susan Bolton (granddaughter).
(With thanks to Culture Vannin as publishers of the book: Kelly, Dollin (general editor), ‘New Manx Worthies’, Manx Heritage Foundation/Culture Vannin, 2006, pp.9-10.)
Culture Vannin
#NMW
Gender: Male
Date of birth: 20 January 1902
Date of death: 11 September 1980
Name Variant: Bolton, Sir John Brown