Alexander Robertson

Epithet: Town clerk and freeman of Douglas, JP

Record type: Biographies

Biography: From ‘New Manx Worthies’ (2006):

Alexander Robertson's forebears came over to the Island with the Duke of Atholl from the family home in Struan, Perthshire. He was born and lived the whole of his life in Douglas.He was educated at Thomas Street Day School and subsequently at King William's College. On leaving school he entered the office of Richard Sherwood, who later became Deemster. He thus began his close association with the affairs of Douglas in particular, and the Island in general, for which he was later awarded the OBE.

After eight years as one of the accountants with the Isle of Man Banking Company, he was appointed deputy clerk of Douglas town commissioners in 1890 and subsequently succeeded Mr Nesbitt in 1898 as Town Clerk of what was by then Douglas Corporation, a position he held until his retirement at the end of 1930. In recognition of his 32 years service to Douglas, the Corporation bestowed on him the Honorary Freedom of the Borough on 29th October 1930, joining the first three holders of this honour, Lord Derby, Alderman John Thomas Faragher and Sir Thomas Henry Hall Caine.

Robertson's tenure with the Corporation covered a time of rapid expansion of the town, and indeed the Island, as a leading tourist resort. He presided over such major developments as the West Baldwin reservoir, giving Douglas and surrounding areas for the first time an adequate clean water supply, slum clearance, the building of municipal houses, proper drainage and street lighting, public transport, major road works and the building of the Villa Marina in 1913.

After retirement he was in great demand to fill many voluntary charitable posts and was appointed a Justice of the Peace. He was chairman of the Isle of Man branch of the Red Cross, for which service he was made an honorary life member. He was a trustee of the Ellan Vannin Disaster Fund and closely associated with the Jane Crookall Maternity Home. He served on the Noble's Hospital committee and the Manx Music Festival (The Guild) committee as well as being a member of various other societies. Alexander Robertson was a director and later became chairman of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company through the difficult years of World War II, when its fleet was so sadly depleted, and in the subsequent years when the fleet had to be rebuilt. His wife launched the King Orry, Britain's first postwar passenger ship. He was also a director and chairman of the Isle of Man Bank for Savings.

He was a trustee of King William's College and a president of the KWC and Barrovian Societies.

As a man he was completely unmechanical and thus never owned a motor car, though he knew every inch of the Island - especially the trout streams - from travels on foot and by bicycle. He was interested in sport both locally and nationally, though as far as is known he never partook in any of these activities except, perhaps, football in his youth.

Everyone knew him and he knew everyone.His advice and wise counsel were freely sought and freely given to all members of society. A cartoon caricature in the Isle of Man Times depicted his familiar figure - complete with bowler hat, pipe and 'corporation'.

On his death the Island lost a well respected gentleman who devoted his whole life to the well-being of its inhabitants.

Biography written by Richard Quine (grandson).

(With thanks to Culture Vannin as publishers of the book: Kelly, Dollin (general editor), ‘New Manx Worthies’, Manx Heritage Foundation/Culture Vannin, 2006, pp.413-4.)

Culture Vannin

#NMW

Occupation / profession: Douglas Town Clerk

Gender: Male

Date of birth: 1864

Date of death: 1951

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