[2] Cumming was educated at Oakham School, and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, taking the degree of MA, and entering holy orders in 1835.

[4] In 1841 he was appointed vice-principal of King William's College, Castletown, in the Isle of Man,[1] and this position he held until 1856.

[1][5] The results were published in: In this book he dealt with the mythical tales, recording the history of the island, especially the geological phenomena.

He included the lithological character of the island and the disturbances which have produced the subsidence of some geological formations.

[8] His interest did not wane and in 1861 he was instrumental in forming a committee to send examples of Manx culture and industrial products to the Great Exhibition of 1861.