It is 190 years since Sir William Hillary asked the nation to ‘lend our utmost aid’ to those in trouble at sea.
It was an impassioned appeal to the nation, calling for a service dedicated to saving lives at sea, that ultimately led to the formation of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Thursday marks the 190th anniversary of that appeal published by the RNLI’s founder, Sir William Hillary on 28 February 1823.
Hillary was inspired to write his appeal after witnessing the destruction of dozens of ships from his home, the Fort Anne in Douglas on the Isle of Man, and being involved in rescue attempts himself.
In the subsequent pamphlet, Hillary recognised the dangers of the sea: ‘The conflicting fury of the elements, the darkness of the night, the disasters of the sea, and the dangers of the adjacent shores, but too frequently combine to place the unhappy mariner beyond the power of human relief.’
Hillary considered that, for a nation renowned for its naval and commercial sea power, ‘the experience, talent, and genius of the most distinguished commanders and men of science should be united in the formation of one great Institution, which would in itself embrace every possible means for the preservation of life from the hazards of shipwreck.’
He sent his pamphlet to high ranking naval officers, ministers and prominent citizens, setting out his idea for an organisation that put saving lives above recovering property. According to Hillary, this new institution would prioritise, ‘First, the preservation of human life from shipwreck…, secondly [provide] assistance to vessels in distress…, thirdly the preservation of vessels and property…’
At the heart of this institution would be ‘a large body of men…in constant readiness to risk their own lives for the preservation of those whom they have never known or seen, perhaps of another nation, merely because they are fellow creatures in extreme peril.’
This sentiment still applies today and in 2013, the RNLI’s 4,600 volunteer crew men and women are on alert 24 hours a day, all year round to launch from one of the charity’s 236 lifeboat stations around the coasts of the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Since Hillary founded the Institution for the Preservation of Lives from Shipwreck, the RNLI has saved over 140,000 lives. As well as lifeboats the charity now operates lifeguard units on over 180 beaches, has a specially trained flood rescue team and runs an international programme helping to set up and train lifesaving organisations around the world.
Photo - Portrait of Sir William Hillary
