John Quilliam

Captain John Quilliam (29 September 1771 – 10 October 1829) was a Royal Navy officer who served as first lieutenant on HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. He was a farmer's son who was impressed into the Royal Navy in 1791.

Biography Early life The eldest son of John Quilliam and Christian Clucas of Ballakelly, John Quilliam was born in Marown, Isle of Man, in 1771. It is said he did not care for farming and consequently he was apprenticed to a stonemason. His early nautical career is unknown. However, he was impressed into the Royal Navy from a collier in Castletown harbour.

Career Unlike most impressed sailors, Quilliam rose rapidly in the Royal Navy. By 1797 he had risen to the rank of midshipman and is recorded at the Battle of Camperdown

Battle of Copenhagen At the Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, Quilliam was first lieutenant aboard the frigate . The slight draft of the Amazon meant she was able to get close under the shore batteries; however this in turn led to the Amazon receiving a high volume of damage, the result of which was that all the higher-ranking officers were killed, leaving Quilliam in command.

Personal life Politics Although still an active naval officer, in 1807 Capt. Quilliam was invited to become a Member of the House of Keys. At that time the body was self-elected, the members being chosen by the lieutenant governor on the recommendation of the house. He resigned his seat in 1810 in order to return to sea, however on his return to the Island he was again invited to continue as a Member of the House of Keys in 1817.

Quilliam's main hobby was fishing, and he occupied himself with a small fishing boat which he designed and fitted out himself. He also served as Chairman of the Committee for Shipwrecked Seamen. In addition he was one of a group of gentlemen who put forward the scheme for the erection of the Derbyhaven Breakwater.

Commemoration

A sculpture of Quilliam by Manx artist Bryan Kneale was unveiled on Trafalgar Day 2005 at Castle Rushen. The sculpture won the 2007 Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture. The uniform of Captain Quilliam is on public display at the Manx Museum, Douglas, Isle of Man. To mark the 150th anniversary of his death in 1979, a series of postage stamps by the Isle of Man Post Office dedicated to Capt. Quilliam were released. The four stamps in the series depicted Quilliam being impressed into the Royal Navy, his role at the Battle of Trafalgar, his time in command of HMS Spencer and his subsequent career as a Member of the House of Keys.