English: Captain Quilliam was one of the highest ranking Manxmen ever in the British Navy. He was working as a labourer at the age of 23 when he was “impressed” into the Royal Navy – in other words, he was seized by a press gang and forced to join up.

Despite being press ganged, John was made for the Navy and quickly rose through the ranks to a position of command. At the battle of Copenhagen in 1801 his calmness on taking command when the captain of his vessel was killed brought him to the attention of Admiral Nelson. When Nelson asked John how he was getting on during the battle he gave the Manx response of “Middlin’!”, which is perhaps one of the most Manx responses ever noted at a historic event.

John’s success at Copenhagen was rewarded when Nelson made him first lieutenant on HMS Victory – Nelson’s own ship. During the battle of Trafalgar the Victory’s steering was damaged but John managed to rig up a new steering system. When Nelson was killed he sailed the Victory back to England with Nelson’s body on board.

In 1807 John was elected to the House of Keys. During his time on the island, John lived in two famous houses – the White House in Kirk Michael and Balcony House on the Parade in Castletown. He is buried in Kirk Arbory, and Arbory school commemorate him each year.

... This description taken from the Manx History App: www.manxhistory.com/app/#manx_people/17

This statue stands in Castletown, in the gardens by the Castle Rushen walls, accessed from the Market Square. This bronze bust sculpted by Bryan Kneale was unveiled on Trafalgar Day in 2005 as part of the commemorations of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. Fittingly, it is placed in the Speaker's Garden below the walls of Castle Rushen and is just a short distance from Balcony House where Quilliam lived for a period after he retired. The sculpture was partly funded by Culture Vannin. More about the sculpture and Culture Vannin's role in its creation can be found here: culturevannin.im/news_story_1830.html

More information about Captain Quilliam and other great manx people can be found on the Manx History App:

www.manxhistory.com/app/#home