{{Short description|Isle of Mann magistrate}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} '''John Cosnahan''' (1754–1819) was the first High Bailiff of Douglas, Isle of Man, and Deemster. He was the eldest son of Hugh Cosnahan and Eleanor Finch<ref name=MW>{{cite web|last=Moore|first=A. W.|title=John Cosnahan|url=http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/fulltext/worthies/p084.htm|work=Manx Worthies|publisher=S. K. Broadbent & Company, Limited|accessdate=31 January 2012|pages=84|year=1901}}</ref> (1753–1799){{Fix|text=whose are these dates?}}.
In 1781, as a member of the House of Keys,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LMUuAAAAIAAJ&q=john+cosnahan+proceedings&pg=PA384|title=The ancient ordinances and statute laws of the Isle of Man|accessdate=2012-01-31|last1=Man|first1=Isle of|last2=Mills|first2=Mark Anthony|year=1821}}</ref> he was sent to London to speak on behalf of the Island. He spoke so powerfully in the House of Lords on 13 June that year that he helped prevent a Bill proposed by the Duke of Athol<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BhtDAAAAcAAJ&q=john+cosnahan+proceedings&pg=PA312|title=Journals of the House of Lords, Volume 36|year=1779|accessdate=2012-01-31}}</ref> to pay extra compensation to the Duke for handing the Island over to the Crown.
In 1808 he became a Water Bailiff or Judge of the Admiralty Court.<ref name=MW /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/iomnhas/v054p385.htm|title=John McHutchin IoMNHASoc Vol 5 No. 4 pp385-389|accessdate=2012-01-31}}</ref>
In the last few months of his life he was made a Deemster or stipendiary magistrate, although his appointment was delayed by the opposition of the Duke.
==Family== John married his cousin Catherine Finch and they had eight children, a daughter and seven sons, but none of them produced an heir.<ref name=rcf>{{cite web|url=http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/iomnhas/v044p516.htm|title=IoMNHAS vol 4 no 4 p516 – Records of Cosnahan Family|accessdate=2012-01-31}}</ref> His children were: * John Finch (1794–1885), Lawyer, unmarried * Michael (1790–1883), Captain R.N., served as a midshipman under Nelson, and later earned distinction in the Crimean War. He died aged 85{{Fix|text=does not agree dates given}}, and is buried at St Peter's in Thanet. He was married, but childless. * Hugh (d. 1822), Captain R.N. He was married and had two sons. One, Charles, died in infancy. The other, George, was in the Navy, but while still a midshipman was drowned.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WQ8HAAAAQAAJ&q=cosnahan&pg=RA1-PA74|title=The Archaeological mine, antiquarian nuggets relating to Kent by A.J. Dunkin|accessdate=2012-01-31|last1=Mine|first1=Archaeological|year=1855}}</ref> * Augustus died young and unmarried. * Philip (1793/4-1814) lived a short but eventful life. As a midshipman in the Navy he was aboard {{HMS|Shannon|1806|6}} and was mentioned in dispatches following the capture of USS ''Chesapeake''.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ledDfnW-_asC&q=cosnahan&pg=PA242|title=Admiral Sir P. B. V. Broke, a memoir|accessdate=2012-01-31|last1=Brighton|first1=John George|year=1866}}</ref> He was drowned in Liverpool Bay and was buried in his uncle's vault in St James, Liverpool. * James Mark (1794–1817), advocate, and took over his father's office. He died, however, just before his father, and was buried at Braddan. * Mark James (1793–1812) entered the service of the East India Company (military branch) and died in India.
==References== <references />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cosnahan, John}} Category:1754 births Category:1819 deaths Category:Manx judges Category:Members of the House of Keys