The son of a clergyman with antiquarian interests, P. M. C. Kermode (1855–1932) was interested from an early age in the natural and man-made history of the world around him. He originally studied law but was self-educated in both natural history and archaeology. His work in these latter fields was of immense importance, from the discovery of the skeleton of a giant deer to the cataloguing and drawing of all the Manx crosses. From being a founder member of the Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society he went on to be appointed the first Director of the Manx Museum from 1922 until his death in 1932.