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

 WILLIAM FINE MOORE (b. 1814, d. 1895),

the youngest son of James Moore, of Cronkbourne, and Elizabeth Jeale, was educated at Imeson's School, in Douglas, but left at the early age of 14, to enter his father's business, which was that of a sail-cloth manufacturer. From his father's death, in 1846, till 1877, when he took his eldest son, Arthur William Moore, into partnership, he was the sole proprietor of this business, which he greatly improved and extended. Besides actively concerning himself in this way, he was connected with the management of other commercial undertakings in the island, such as the Isle of Man Banking Company, Limited, the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, Limited, and the Isle of Man Electric Telegraph Company. He was also a large shareholder in insular mines, and took a keen interest in farming. Nor must we forget his services as a legislator and administrator. He entered the old House of Keys in 1857, being, at the same time, made a magistrate. He at once ' lent his aid to the small party in the Keys which represented the cause of progress and popular control,; and this was recognised by the people of Douglas in 1867, when they placed him at the head of the poll at the first popular election of that House. He had "a ready fund and force of speech," and was always an active and energetic member of the House, to which he continued to belong till ill-health led to his resignation in 1875. His chief legislative work was the introduction of a Highway Bill which did away with the anomalies and injustices perpetrated by the old Act. 1867, he was a member of the Board of Harbour commissioners, and, both before and after that date, he did much useful work on various Tynwald Court Committees. He was a staunch and enthusiastic Churchman, the erection of the new church at Braddan being largely due to him, and a large and generous donor to insular charities.