Jospeh Mylchreest - St. Michael and All Angels - Kirk Michael, Isle of Man
Posted by: 
Mike_bjm
N 54° 17.109 W 004° 35.171
30U E 396742 N 6016408
Brass PLaque in St. Michael and All Angels in the village of Kirk Michael.
Waymark Code: WMWKEC
Location: Isle of Man
Date Posted: 09/15/2017
Views: 1
This plaque for Joseph Mylchreest is on a wooden block an mounted on an interior wall of the Church to the left of the Sanctuary.
The inscription on the plaque is as follows:
TO THE GLORY OF GOD
and in loving memory of
Joseph Mylchreest J.P.H.K
Whitehouse.
who: Died: Decr 28th 1896.
The Central Window
Reredos and Wainscoting
are erected by his Widow
Phoebe Hannah Mylchreest.
Joseph Mylchreest was the third son of John Mylchreest, a Peel smack-owner and Christian Moore.
Joseph was educated at Gawne's School in Peel and on leaving school became an apprentice ship's carpenter. After 5 years as an apprentice he went to the west coast of Africa where he again worked as a ships carpenter. In 1860, he went to Australia to find gold. He was not to find his fortune in Australia however and wandered to New Zealand, California, British Columbia, Bolivia, Peru and Chile and again back to Australia. During this period he worked off and on in various gold and silver mines.
In 1876 he went to the Kimberley Mines in South Africa where initially at least he was no more successful in gaining his fortune.
It was when obtained the lease of the Royal Mining Company's Works that things changed and he gradually acquired a most valuable property and which he sold to the De Beers Company for an enormous sum.
In 1888, he returned to the Island, where undertook much good work in the remaining years of his life. He used his money for charitable purposes and to encourage agriculture.
In 1891 he was elected as a Member of the House of Keys for Peel and was also made a magistrate.
Link to a photograph of Joseph Mylchreest 'Diamond King':
(
visit link)
source: (
visit link)