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

 JOHN FRISSELL CRELLIN (b. 1816, d. 1886),

the eldest son of John Christian Crellin, of Orrysdale and Catherine, only child of Robert Quayle, of West Hill Castletown, was educated at King William's College. He at first intended taking Holy Orders, but he abandoned that idea, and studied medicine at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, taking his diploma in due course, and becoming a member of the Royal College of Surgeons. Shortly afterwards, he was offered a Fellowship of that body, but declined it. After his father's death, he settled at his property of Orrysdale, and made use of his medical knowledge for treating the poor in the neighbourhood gratuitously. Elected a member of the House of Keys in 1843, he continued to belong to it till towards the end of 1874,* being one of its most useful conscientious, and respected members. He acted for many years as deputy-speaker, and there is little doubt but that he might have succeeded Mr. Gawne as speaker, in 1867, if he had desired to do so. Archaeology and numismatics were his favourite study, and he attained distinction in both. Thus, we find him as one of the members of the committee appointed by Governor Loch, in 1876, to report on the antiquities of the island, and we know that he had an unrivalled knowledge of the various Manx coinages, and that his collection of them is unique. His assistance was, consequently, invaluable to Dr. Clay, with whom he collaborated in the production of Vol. XVIII. of the Manx Society's publications, which deals with Manx coins.

* It may be mentioned that, in February 1872 he, as senior member of the Keys, attended the thanksgiving service in St. Paul's for the recovery of the Prince of Wales, together with Sir James Gell (then attorney general) and the speaker (Sir J. S. Goldie-Taubman). They had the " three legs " painted on the panel of the carriage in which they drove to and from the service, and this, there almost unknown, symbol attracted considerable attention.