was the means of saving many lives the first year. Although Lukin thus
demonstrated the possibility of lives being saved by a boat which could
live under circumstances that would have proved fatal to ordinary boats,
he was doomed to disappointment. The Prince of Wales (George the
Fourth) did indeed befriend him, but the Lords of Admiralty were deaf,
and the public were indifferent. Lukin went to his grave unrewarded by
man, but stamped with a nobility which can neither be gifted nor
inherited, but only won--the nobility which attaches to the character of
"national benefactor."

The public were aroused from their apathy in 1789 by the wreck of the
_Adventure_ of Newcastle, the crew of which perished in the presence of
thousands, who could do nothing to save them. Models of lifeboats were
solicited, and premiums offered for the best. Among those who
responded, William Wouldhave, a painter, and Henry Greathead, a
boat-builder of South Shields, stood pre-eminent. The latter afterwards
became a noted builder and improver of lifeboats, and was well and
deservedly rewarded for his labours. In 1803 Greathead had built
thirty-one boats--eighteen for England, five for Scotland, and eight for
other countries. This was, so far, well, but it was a wretchedly
inadequate provision for the necessities of the case. It was not until
1822 that a great champion of the lifeboat cause stood forth in the
person of Sir William Hillary, Baronet.

Sir William, besides being a philanthropist, was a hero! He not only
devised liberal things and carried them into execution, but he
personally shared in the danger of rescuing life from the sea. He dwelt
on the shores of the Isle of Man, where he established a Sailors' Home
at Douglas. He frequently embarked in the boats that went off to rescue
lives from the wrecks that were constantly occurring on the island.
Once he had his ribs broken in this service, and was frequently in
imminent danger of being drowned. During his career he personally
assisted in the saving of 305 human lives! He was the means of stirring
up public men, and the nation generally, to a higher sense of their duty
towards those who, professionally and otherwise, risk their lives upon
the sea; and eventually, in conjunction with two Members of Parliament--
Mr Thomas Wilson and Mr George Herbert--was the founder of "THE ROYAL
NATIONAL INSTITUTION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF LIFE FROM SHIPWRECK." This
Institution--now nam