Donald James Gelling CBE CP, CInstSMM (born 5 July 1938[1]) is a Manx former politician, who is a former Chief Minister of the Isle of Man[2] who served two terms as Head of the Government.
Gelling was born on Tynwald Day (5 July) 1938 in Santon, a village to the south-west of Douglas.
He was apprenticed in engineering from 1954 to 1959 and after National Service in the Royal Air Force he became a salesman of agricultural machinery and vehicles.
He decided to retire from the Chief Ministership the following year and was elected by his Keys colleagues to be a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC).
The Legislative Council is the Upper House of Tynwald, the Isle of Man's parliament.