An Appeal to the British Nation on the Humanity and Policy of Forming a National Institution for the Preservation of Lives and Property from Shipwreck (1825)

Name: An Appeal to the British Nation on the Humanity and Policy of Forming a National Institution for the Preservation of Lives and Property from Shipwreck (1825)
Author: Sir William Hillary

By Sir William Hillary

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Essays, Letters & Speeches History - British History - Modern (1750+)

About This Book

The author argues for creation of a national institution to preserve lives and property from shipwreck, opening with an address to the sovereign and a personal account of witnessed disasters. He details recurring coastal wrecks and shortcomings in existing aid, and urges organized lifeboat services, incentives for volunteer rescuers, coordinated funding, technical improvements, and cooperation among government and foreign maritime powers. The pamphlet combines moral appeals to public benevolence with practical arguments about economic loss and operational design, closing with concrete proposals for a systematic, nation-wide service to reduce fatalities and safeguard commerce.

About the Author

Sir William Hillary

Sir William Hillary was a British advocate for maritime safety and the founder of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. His notable work, "An Appeal to the British Nation on the Humanity and Policy of Forming a National Institution for the Preservation of Lives and Property from Shipwreck" (1825), outlines the urgent need for organized rescue efforts at sea. Hillary's efforts were instrumental in establishing a framework for lifeboat services, which have since saved countless lives. His contributions to maritime safety reflect a deep commitment to humanitarian principles and the protection of seafarers.