13 Facts About Illiam Dhone

Illiam Dhone was a son of Ewan Christian, a deemster.

Illiam Dhone was a significant figure in the Isle of Man during the English Civil War and the Manx Rebellion of 1651.

Illiam Dhone was the third surviving son and youngest heir of Ewan Christian and his wife Katherine Harrison of Bankfield, Eastholme.

Illiam Dhone was most likely born at the family property in Derbyhaven at Ronaldsway in the parish of Malew in the south-east of the island.

Illiam Dhone was a noted opponent of the Lord of Mann James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby.

Illiam Dhone was imprisoned for eight years until James Stanley was executed in 1651, but in 1659 he was imprisoned for treason in Peel Castle, where he died years later.

Illiam Dhone was left in command of the island militia, and Stanley's wife Charlotte Stanley, Countess of Derby, who was now residing at Castle Rushen on the island, was left under his guardianship, highlighting the trust Stanley placed in Illiam Dhone.

Illiam Dhone then was appointed Governor of the Isle of Man in 1656: the highest point of his career.

Illiam Dhone's estates were confiscated and his brother Deemster John Christian was imprisoned for helping him to escape the island.

At his trial, Illiam Dhone refused to plead, and the House of Keys declared that his life and property were at the mercy of the Lord of Mann.

Illiam Dhone is chiefly celebrated through the Manx ballad, which was translated into English by John Crellin in 1774, and through the references to him in Sir Walter Scott's Peveril of the Peak.

Illiam Dhone is a controversial figure in Manx history: some view him as a traitor, while others view him as a patriotic martyr who stood up for the rights of the Manx people.

In January 2006 a monument created by Bryan Kneale dedicated to Illiam Dhone was erected at Malew Church, where Illiam Dhone is buried.