Museums' Exhibitions
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Captain George Manby
Index
Introduction
Captain George Manby (1765-1854) was Master of the Great Yarmouth artillery barracks during the early 19th century and during his time there he designed many inventions for saving lives at sea.
He invented a system that used a mortar to fire a line onto stranded vessels. People were put into slings or breeches buoys and winched to safety along this line. This was the best known of Manby’s inventions and saved thousands of lives.
Manby was desperate for fame and recognition and toured Britain and Europe promoting himself and his inventions.
The following exhibition brings together objects in the Great Yarmouth collection which tell the story of his life and work.
Captain George Manby
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Captain George Manby
This noble oil painting is a self-commissioned portrait of Captain George Manby (1765-1854) by an unknown artist.
In this portrait the mortar, which he rest his hands on and the ship in the background serve to remind the viewer of the Captain’s achievements.
An inscription can just be seen written in dark lettering in the lower left of the painting, which records that by the time this picture was painted in 1818, 137 lives had been saved by Manby’s rescue equipment.
Sadly, despite the success of his inventions, Manby died a bitter and forgotten man. His body was found sitting at a window looking out to the ships of Yarmouth.
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Theme: Lifesaving
Exhibition: Captain George Manby
Faithful and Historical Reminiscences of Captain Manby
During four winters after my appointment to the charge of the Barracks at Yarmouth in 1803, I res…
Line carrying rocket
Pains-Wessex self-contained line carrying rocket with instruction card
This rocket is a &l…
Lifeboat Being Towed out of Yarmouth Harbour by Joseph Nash
Joseph Nash
(1835—1922)c. late 19th century
This arresting scene empha…
Captain Thomas Harper White, Master -Cockle Light Ship (1871?)
Captain Thomas Harper White, born Dec 16 1812 in Plymouth Devon is my great great grandfather. I …
