Tony Brown (Manx politician) facts for kids

James Anthony Brown was born on January 5, 1950. He is a politician and businessman from the Isle of Man. He was the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man from 2006 until October 2011. The Chief Minister is like the head of the government for the Isle of Man. He decided to retire from this important job in 2011. He was also awarded the OBE, which is a special honor given for public service.

Tony Brown's Early Life and Career

Tony Brown grew up in Castletown, a town on the Isle of Man. He went to Victoria Road Primary and Castle Rushen High School. After school, he became an electrician and even owned his own business called Tony Brown Electrics in Castletown.

Starting in Local Politics

Tony Brown began his political journey in 1976. He was elected as a member of the Castletown Commissioners. These are local leaders who help manage the town. By 1980, he became the chairman of the Commissioners.

Becoming a Member of the House of Keys

In 1981, Tony Brown was elected as a MHK for Castletown. The House of Keys is part of the Isle of Man's parliament, called Tynwald. Being an MHK means he represented the people of Castletown in the government.

Leadership Roles in Tynwald

In 2000, Tony Brown tried to become the Speaker of the House of Keys. The Speaker is like the referee in parliament, making sure debates run smoothly. He didn't win that time but became the Deputy Speaker instead. After the 2001 election, he was elected Speaker. In 2002, he also became the Deputy President of Tynwald.

Becoming Chief Minister

Tony Brown was re-elected as an MHK in November 2006. After this election, there was a lot of talk about who would become the next Chief Minister. At first, his name wasn't put forward. After some voting, no one was chosen. Then, Tony Brown was nominated, and he was the only candidate.

On December 14, 2006, Tynwald voted for him, and he received 27 votes. The Lieutenant Governor, who represents the King or Queen on the Isle of Man, then officially appointed him as Chief Minister. Tony Brown then had to step down from his role as Speaker, as the law requires.

Returning to Local Politics

After retiring from the Chief Minister role, Tony Brown returned to local politics. In 2025, he topped the polls in the Castletown Commissioners election. This means he received the most votes. He was then elected to be the Chair of the Commissioners again.

Tony Brown's Family Life

Tony Brown married Rachel Smith in 1979. They had two children together, a son and a daughter. Rachel passed away in 2022. Tony Brown and his family lived in his hometown of Castletown.

Important Government Jobs

Tony Brown held several important positions in the Isle of Man government throughout his career:

• Minister for Health and Social Security: 1986–1989
• Minister for Local Government and the Environment: 1989–1994
• Minister for Tourism and Leisure: 1994–1996
• Minister for Transport: 1996–2001
• Chief Minister: 2006–2011

See also

In Spanish: Tony Brown para niños