Principal executive officer through whom the Lord of Man, and after Revestment the Crown, administered government on the Island.

Under the proprietary system the Governor or Deputy-Governor acted on behalf of the Lord. The Governor summoned the Council and Keys, presided over parts of the Island’s judicial and administrative machinery and acted as the point through which many appointments, orders and appeals were handled.

The office retained substantial authority after 1765. A dispute in 1771 between Governor John Wood and Crown revenue officers shows how the Governor remained embedded in the Island’s existing constitutional system even after British departments had begun appointing officials directly. Wood objected to revenue officers exercising the office of Water-Bailiff, arguing that overlapping jurisdictions would create confusion.

Charles Lutwidge replied that the new Crown revenue officers had been required to conform to Manx laws and customs except where these conflicted with British Acts of Parliament. He recorded taking his oath at Castletown before the Governor in July 1765 and later described appeals from the Water-Bailiff’s Court as lying to the Governor and, with no Lord Proprietor remaining, from the Governor to the King in Council.

The Governor therefore remained more than a ceremonial representative. Courts and officers could be subordinate to him; commissions and oaths were administered in his presence; and disputes between local and British administrative jurisdictions passed through his office.

The title varied over time between Governor, Captain, Deputy-Governor and Lieutenant-Governor, depending on the commission and period.