Manby

Manby, GEORGE WILLIAM, inventor of life-saving apparatus for shipwrecked persons, was born in 1765, at Hilgay, near Downham Market in Norfolk, served in the militia, and became barrack-master at Yarmouth in 1803. In 1808 he succeeded, with apparatus designed by him, in saving the lives of the crew of the brig Elizabeth. A career of usefulness was thus commenced, which he followed for the remaining forty-six years of his life. He repeatedly received grants of money from parliament. He died November 18, 1854. It was estimated that, by the time of his death, nearly 1000 persons had been rescued from stranded ships by means of his apparatus. See LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS.