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lifeboat history – Amazon Paperback

Sir William Hillary is credited with founding the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, later renamed the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
After witnessing the destruction of dozens of ships from his home on the Isle of Man, and getting involved in rescue attempts himself, Hillary appealed to the Navy.
The government and other ‘eminent characters’ for help in forming ‘a national institution for the preservation of lives and property from shipwreck’.
With the support of London MP Thomas Wilson and West India Merchants Chairman George Hibbert, the Institution was founded as a charity on 4 March 1824.
The name was changed to RNLI in 1854. The RNLI rewards rescues of special merit with Medals for Gallantry in Bronze, Silver or Gold.
In 1824, Navy Captain Charles Fremantle was awarded the Institution’s first Gold Medal for his attempts to rescue the crew of the Carl Jean off the Hampshire coast.
The youngest medallist was Frederick Carter who was awarded a Silver Medal at the age of 11 for his part in an 1890 rescue in Dorset.
He and another boy, 16-year-old Frank Perry, rowed through heavy surf to save two men whose boat had capsized. Frank was also awarded a Silver Medal.

Many original antique prints illustrating Coastguard History, Dennett’s Rockets, Hale & Congreve Rockets, Manby’s Mortar 1809-1830, called a Lyle Gun in America.
From 1806 to the present day a Civilian Sea Rescue, with Air Sea Rescue from 1941, Volunteer Life Brigades, Breeches Buoys Rescues & Practice.
George Palmer designed a purpose-built Lifeboat in 1828. William Plenty’s Lifeboat 1817-29. James Beeching Lifeboats used Worldwide.
In 1849-50 only 96 Lifeboats with 681 vessels and 111 being wrecked in one Month of March.
James Peake master shipwright of Woolwich Dockyard designed the 1st Self-Righting Lifeboat.
Henry Richardson designed the 1st Tubular Lifeboat 1851 still using the basic design in 1891.
Today the Tubular Design is our Modern Inflatable for inshore rescue, we see worldwide.