Plimsoll, Samuel

Plimsoll, Samuel
born Feb. 10, 1824, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Eng.
died June 3, 1898, Folkestone, Kent

British reformer.

A London coal merchant, he served in Parliament (1868–80). With his book Our Seamen (1873), he helped overcome resistance to the Merchant Shipping Act, which instituted such reforms as the loading limit for cargo ships. A load line (the Plimsoll mark or line) was marked on the hull of every cargo ship, indicating the maximum depth to which the ship could be safely loaded.

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▪ British politician and social reformer
born Feb. 10, 1824, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Eng.
died June 3, 1898, Folkestone, Kent

      British politician and social reformer who dedicated himself to achieving greater safety for seamen and whose name has been given to a line on the side of a ship, indicating the maximum depth to which that ship may be legally loaded. He first entered the House of Commons as a Liberal in 1868. In 1873 he published Our Seamen, a powerful attack on “coffin ships,” unseaworthy and overloaded vessels, often heavily insured, in which owners risked their crews' lives. Plimsoll initiated an investigation by a royal commission in 1873, and in 1876 the Merchant Shipping Act gave stringent powers of inspection to the Board of Trade and fixed the loading line (Plimsoll mark (Plimsoll line)) for ships. In 1887 he became president of the National Amalgamated Sailors' and Firemen's Union and raised a further agitation about the horrors of cattle ships.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Plimsoll, Samuel — (10 feb. 1824, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Inglaterra–3 jun. 1898, Folkestone, Kent). Reformador británico. Comerciante de carbón en Londres y parlamentario (1868–80). Con su libro Our Seamen [Nuestros marinos] (1873), ayudó a vencer las… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • PLIMSOLL, SAMUEL —     the sailor s friend, born at Bristol; after experience in a Sheffield brewery entered business in London as a coal dealer; interesting himself in the condition of the sailor s life in the mercantile marine, he directed public attention to… …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • Samuel Plimsoll — Naissance 10 février 1824 Décès 3 juin 1898 (à 74 ans) Nationalité …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Samuel Plimsoll — Samuel Plimsoll. Samuel Plimsoll (* 10. Februar 1824; † 3. Juni 1898) war ein britischer Abgeordneter, der gegen eine Reederschaft zu Felde zog, die absichtlich seeuntüchtige Schiffe ausfahren ließ, um bei Schiffbruch die Versicherungssumme zu… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Samuel — samuel. m. C. Rica. Acción de samuelear. || echar un samuel. fr. C. Rica. samuelear. * * * Samuel, Herbert Louis (Šemū´ēl) …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Plimsoll-Marke — Unter Schiffsmaßen versteht man unterschiedliche technische Daten wie Masse und Raumangaben, Verdrängung, Tragfähigkeit, Tiefgang, Länge und Geschwindigkeit eines Schiffes. Die folgenden Angaben gelten für Seeschiffe. Angaben zu Schiffsgrößen und …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Samuel — /sam yooh euhl/, n. 1. a judge and prophet of Israel. I Sam. 1 3; 8 15. 2. either of two books of the Bible bearing his name. Abbr.: I Sam., II Sam. 3. a male given name: from a Hebrew word meaning name of God. * * * I (с 11th century BC) Old… …   Universalium

  • Samuel Plimsoll — (10 February 1824 ndash; 3 June 1898) was a British politician and social reformer, now best remembered for having devised the Plimsoll line.Early lifePlimsoll was born in Bristol but soon moved to Whitely Wood Hall Sheffield, also spending part… …   Wikipedia

  • Plimsoll — is a surname, and may refer to:* James Plimsoll, a governor of Tasmania * John Plimsoll, South African cricketer * Oliver Plimsolls, fictional character in The League of Gentlemen (comedy) * Samuel Plimsoll, British politicianPlimsoll may also… …   Wikipedia

  • Plimsoll Line —    Samuel Plimsoll (1824 1898) was born in Bristol, England. He started out as a brewery clerk, became a manager, and then became a coal dealer. Elected to Parliament (1868) from Derby, Plimsoll cast about for a cause that could inspire him and… …   Dictionary of eponyms

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