[taken from Chapter 4 Manx Worthies, A.W.Moore, 1901]

JOHN COSNAHAN (b. 1754, d. 1819),

son of Hugh Cosnahan and Eleanor Finch,* was an advocate a member of the House of Keys, and High-Bailiff of Douglas. In 1808, he was appointed water-bailiff, with a seat in the Council. In 1790, he, together with Norris Moore, afterwards deemster, was sent to London by the Keys to oppose a Bill to give the Duke of Atholl more compensation for the loss of his sovereignty. The petition, which they laid before the House of Commons, closed with a prayer that they might be heard by counsel at the bar of the House. This was agreed to, and JOHN COSNAHAN, who was a man of brilliant mind, ready wit, and powerful elocution, acted as the counsel in question. His address was greatly applauded, and it considerably affected the desired end, namely the withdrawal of the Bill. Not till a few months before his death did he receive the appointment of deemster, an office which he would probably have attained to at a much earlier date, but for the opposition of the duke, who disliked him on account of his keen advocacy for the popular side.

* Finch Road was named after an ancestor of hers. His father, an M.H.K was one of the commissioners appointed to try and modify the fiscal arrangements made at the Revestment.
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