Born on 24 June 1926 in London, he was educated at the
Friern Barnet Grammar School and
King's College London. He went on to become a Medical Officer, a
general practitioner and a
lieutenant colonel in the
RAMC, commanding
field ambulances in the
Territorial Army (TA). On 9 July 1950, he was commissioned in
Royal Army Medical Corps as a
lieutenant to undertake his
National Service. He was promoted to
captain on 9 July 1951. He transferred to the TA on 2 August 1952. He was promoted to
major 15 December 1958. Already an
acting lieutenant colonel, he transferred to the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers on 15 January 1963, thereby ending his active service, and was granted the
honorary rank of lieutenant colonel. Upon moving to the
Isle of Man, he became a village commissioner (similar to a parish councillor) at
Laxey in 1974, before standing for the
House of Keys for
Garff in 1976. He was immediately appointed chairman of various government Boards (forerunners to the Departments). In 1981, he became Chair of the Finance Board, in effect the Treasury Minister, and then in 1985 was elevated to the
Legislative Council and became
Chairman of the Executive Council. In 1986, the ministerial system was brought in following the General Election. Dr Mann decided to stand for the
House of Keys, as he knew ministers would be expected to be democratically accountable. He also resigned his seat in the Legislative Council on the eve of the election, although this was not legally required. He was not elected, and thus lost his seat in
Tynwald, despite being favoured to become the new
Chief Minister. At the 1990 by-election, he regained his Garff seat and held it until he was re-elevated to the Legislative Council in 1995. In 1992, he became acting
Speaker of the House of Keys and in 1996
Minister of Education. ==Personal life==