[taken from Chapter 3 Manx Worthies, A.W.Moore, 1901]

RIDGWAY HARRISON (b. 1818, d. 1894),

son of Thomas Harrison, of Woodbourne, Douglas, and Alice Ridgway, served his apprenticeship with High-Bailiff Bluett and was admitted to the Manx Bar in 1840. In 1856, he was elected a member of the House of Keys. In 1864, he was appointed tithe agent, in 1866, water-bailiff, or admiralty judge, with a seat in the Council, and, in 1868, seneschal. In 1871, he was appointed receiver-general, or official head of the Harbour Board. This office, after the Year 1872 when that board became subject to the Tynwald Court, also conferred a seat in the Council. He continued to be receiver-general till 1883, when he was appointed Crown-receiver and he retired from the office of water-bailiff in 1885.* Among his numerous offices, the most important, as regards the island, was that of receiver-general, many large harbour works having been carried out during the time he held it. Chief among these were the Victoria and Battery Piers, in Douglas. He was also for upwards of 25 years a prominent member of the Highway Board, being chairman of that body during the greater part of the time.

RIDGWAY HARRISON will also be remembered as the first commander of the Douglas Rifle Corps, which post he held for ten years. He took a great interest in the building of St. Barnabas Church, Douglas, and was, for many years, superintendent of the Sunday School attached to that church.

He was a useful and reliable official, who did much good service for his country, and an amiable and cultured man.