HANBY, GEORGE WILLIAM, favorably known for his exertions in saving the lives of persons in danger of shipwreck, was b. in 1765 at Hilgay, near Downham market in Suffolk. After studying for the army, he served seven years in the militia. Receiving the appointment of barrack-master at Yarmouth in 1803, he bad frequent opportunities of witnessing the ravages produced by storms on the coast of Norfolk and Suffolk. A dreadful series of shipwrecks on a particular day in 1807, when H. M. gun-brig Snipe was wrecked within 60 yards of the shore, and 67 lives lost, and when 147 dead bodies were found on about 30 m. of coast, drew his atMntion forcibly to the subject, and led him to experiments which resulted in the invention of the apparatus known by his name (see LIFE MORTARS AND ROCKETS). On Feb. 12, 1808, he succeeded in saving the lives of the crew of the brig Elizabeth, which was stranded at 150 yards from the shore; he sent a rope over to them by means of a shot, and this rope was the means of pulling a boat from the shore to the brig. A career of usefulness was thus commenced, which he followed for the remaining 46 years of his life. In 1810 a committee of the house of commons voted
£2,000 to Manby, as a token of recognition of his services. Being appointed to report on the dangers of the Norfolk and Suffolk coasts, he recommended the establishment of mortar-stations at certain intervals. This recommendation was adopted by the house of commons and the government; and by the year 1815 there were nearly 60 such stations. Capt. Manby received a further grant from parliament in 1823 of £5,000; to which were added honorary distinctions from many foreign governments. It was estimated that, by the time of his death, nearly 1000 persons had been rescued from stranded ships by means of his apparatus. He wrote two works on his favorite subject: An Essay on the Preservation of Shipwrecked Persons, with, a descriptive account of the Apparatus, etc. (1812); and Practical Observations on, ae Preservation of ifarin,ers from Stranded Vessels, and the Prevention of Shipwreck (1827). In what manner his system has since been superseded by one of a more effective kind, is described under LIFE MORTARS AND ROCKETS. Capt. Manby died Nov. 18, 1854.