Christopher Robert Shimmin

Epithet: MHK, JP, author, playwright, trade unionist (1870-1933)

Record type: Biographies

Biography: From ‘New Manx Worthies’ (2006):

Christopher Shimmin was the second of five children and the eldest son of Robert and Eleanor Shimmin of Strand Street, Peel.

After leaving school he went to the fishing out of Peel on the Diadem. In 1892, at the age of 21, he emigrated to the United States. Whilst living out there he tried his hand at various jobs and saw at first hand some of the labour problems in that country. He visited the World Fair in 1893 and saw a period of depression hit the American economy; lack of employment caused him to return to Peel to work as a sailmaker. This did not quell his spirit of adventure and he travelled all over the world out of Liverpool aboard sailing ships, employed as a sailmaker and crew member. But sail was giving way to steam and he sought a new trade. He trained and worked for some time as a sanitary inspector in Liverpool.

He then returned to Peel to begin yet another career; having served his time, he went into business as a monumental mason. Samples of his work can be seen in Patrick Churchyard on the gravestones of prisoners interned at Knockaloe. These inscriptions are in the native tongues of the internees buried there.

In the 1919 General Election Shimmin was elected as MHK for Peel. He was re-elected in 1924 with a large majority. His travels in the United States had given him socialist sympathies and he became a founder member of the Manx Labour Party During his Keys career he served on the Manx Fisheries Board, the Museum Trustees, the Harbour Board, the Old Age Pensions Board and various other Tynwald committees.

Outside of Tynwald he was in the Workers' Union and was a Methodist and Rechabite. However it is for his cultural pursuits that he is best remembered. He was president of the Manx Language Society (later Yn cheshaght Ghailckagh) and the Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society.

He helped Philip Moore Callow Kermode and Canon John Quine in their Peel Castle excavations. Shimmin himself was an authority on the castle and regularly took groups round it.

Shimmin was also an author of stories and plays about his native land. He wrote a story called 'The Smuggler' for the Daily Herald
which was later translated into Danish and published in that country. He wrote a number of Manx dialect plays: The Charm, Illiam Kodhere's Will, Lass ny Graih, Dooinney Moylee, The Third Boat, a tragedy, Club Day and Police Constable Kelly. He was also the author of Outlines from Manx History published in 1916. He died in 1933 and is buried in Peel Cemetery. After his death his wife Marion Shimmin stood and was elected to the Keys in her husband's place. His sons Jack and Ffinlo carried on the family business.

Biography written by John Wright.

(With thanks to Culture Vannin as publishers of the book: Kelly, Dollin (general editor), ‘New Manx Worthies’, Manx Heritage Foundation/Culture Vannin, 2006, pp.422-3.)

Culture Vannin

#NMW

Gender: Male

Date of birth: October 1870

Date of death: 9 January 1933

Name Variant: Shimmin, Christopher R.

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