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Sumner Kimball and His Impact on Maritime Safety
by Leon C . DeFulgentis , AUXPA3
Throughout human history maritime safety has been a crucial concern ; The need to safeguard lives , cargo , and vessels from the perils of the sea prompted the establishment of various organizations to improve maritime safety . A prominent figure that significantly impacted this field was Sumner Kimball .
Sumner Increase Kimball was born on September 2 , 1834 , in Lebanon , Maine . Raised in Sanford , Maine , he graduated from Bowdoin College in 1855 . Kimball was later elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 1859 . He became a clerk in the United States Treasury Department in 1862 and was placed in charge of the Revenue Marine Bureau in 1871 . The U . S . Revenue Marine later became the U . S . Revenue Cutter Service which eventually merged into the U . S . Coast Guard . In 1871 , Sumner Kimball assumed command of the U . S . Life-Saving Service ( USLSS ), a vital organization responsible for rescuing shipwrecked mariners and preventing loss of life and property along the U . S . coastline . Under Kimball ’ s leadership , the USLSS underwent significant reforms , transforming it into an effective and organized institution . Kimball was only 27 years old when he was appointed head of the USLSS and served in this position until the establishment of the Coast Guard in 1915 .
Kimball ’ s key initiative was the standardization of life-saving equipment and procedures . Kimball recognized that uncoordinated rescue methods and inconsistent equipment hindered rescue operations . Kimball addressed this issue by introducing standardized life-saving equipment such as life vests , lifeboats , and breeches buoys to enable rescuers to perform their duties more efficiently . His leadership led to the establishment of life-saving stations along the U . S . coastline . These stations were equipped with the necessary tools and were manned by well-trained crews . Kimball ’ s contributions to the USLSS and his commitment to maritime safety principles became deeply ingrained in the culture of the newly formed Coast Guard . His emphasis on professionalism , standardized protocols , and training influenced the way the Coast Guard operated . With the formation of the Coast Guard , the organization ’ s responsibilities extended beyond life-saving operations . The Coast Guard took on various additional tasks , including search and rescue missions , law enforcement , icebreaking operations , and environmental protection . Kimball was the author of two books ; Organization and Methods of the United States Life- Saving Service
Sumner Increase Kimball Source : Public Domain