Massachusetts Humane Society

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The Massachusetts Humane Society ( The Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ) was formally founded on January 5, 1786 on the initiative of Boston businessmen on the basis of the British Royal Humane Society . It was decisive for the development of organized sea rescue around Cape Cod , served as a model for the emergence of the US Life-Saving Service and is still involved in the health and rescue services today.

Sea rescue

Since there were increasingly storm-related ship accidents around the exposed Cape Cod in the winter season with ever higher losses of ships, cargo and people near the beach, the Society first built shelters for any survivors who could reach the mainland. From 1807 the company began to maintain lifeboats with lifeboats along the coast. In 1870 there were over 70 stations. In 1871, Congress approved funds for sea rescue for the first time, and the US Life-Saving Service was created, which gradually professionalized and took over sea rescue.

Rescue Medals

Captain Joshua James received all three awards

By awarding awards (life-saving medals in gold, silver and bronze) combined with a financial donation, the society promoted the rescuers from 1786 and publicly promoted the idea of ​​saving.

Members

Famous members in the early years were:

literature

  • James W. Claflin: Lighthouses and Life Saving Along Cape Cod . Arcadia Publishin 2014, ISBN 978-1-4671-2213-9 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ James W. Claflin: Lighthouses and Life Saving Along Cape Cod . P. 59.
  2. ^ Evans Clayton: Rescue at Sea: An International History of Lifesaving, Coastal Rescue Craft and Organizations . Conway Maritime Press 2003, ISBN 978-0-85-177934-8 . P. 17 f.
  3. ^ History: Creating The Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the Society's homepage, accessed April 27, 2019.
  4. ↑ James W. Claflin: Lighthouses and Life Saving Along Cape Cod . P. 59.