Earnshaw, Manuel, 1862-1936

Manuel Earnshaw (November 19, 1862 – February 13, 1936) was a Filipino marine engineer, shipbuilder, businessman, and politician. He served as Resident Commissioner of the Philippines to the U.S. Congress from 1912 until 1917.

Born in Cavite City, Spanish Philippines, he graduated from Ateneo de Manila University before learning the business of shipbuilding as an apprentice in his father’s engineering business. He joined the Spanish Navy and earned a marine engineering degree from the Manila Nautical School. Earnshaw worked for his father’s business, D. Earnshaw & Company, as a marine engineer beginning in 1885. His career advanced rapidly when the Wilks & Boyle Company hired him in 1888. Four years later, he rose to partner in the company, and his name was emblazoned on the new masthead, Boyle & Earnshaw. In 1901 Earnshaw acquired full control of the company, later renamed Earnshaw Slipways & Engineering Company, and formed a new partnership that included his brothers.

Thanks to the urging of Manuel L. Quezon, Earnshaw was elected as Resident Commissioner from the Philippines to the 63rd Congress in November 1912. During his service in the 63rd and 64th Congresses, Earnshaw left almost no legislative fingerprint during his time in Washington, deferring to Quezon as the authority on all policy issues, including the question of Philippine autonomy. After the passage of the Jones Act in 1916, Earnshaw resigned his seat early and returned to the Philippines, where he resumed his business pursuits, retiring in 1921.

In 1936, Earnshaw committed suicide with a revolver in his family’s mausoleum. Per his wishes, he was interred there, in Manila’s Cementerio del Norte, where six other Resident Commissioners also are buried.