ZETLAND lifeboat 1802

[aukepalmhof]

Tristan da Cunha issue two set of stamps to honour the RNLI 200th annversary.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
The creation of a service dedicated to the saving of lives at sea was the vision of Sir William Hillary. In the early 19th Century there was an average of 1,800 shipwrecks a year around the coasts of the UK, a risk that was simply accepted as an inevitable part of life at sea.
In 1823 Hillary proposed the creation of a lifeboat service manned by trained crews dedicated to the saving of lives and property from shipwrecks and vessels in distress. When the Admiralty refused to help, Hillary appealed to the philanthropic members of London society. His campaign rapidly gathered momentum resulting in an inaugural public meeting on 4 March 1824 at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate. With King George IV granting his patronage the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck was formed. In 1854 the Institution's name was changed to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the RNLI, as it is known today.
The story of the RNLI is one of courage and dedication. Since the charity launched its first lifeboat in 1824, the RNLI has saved more than 146,000 lives at sea.
As an Island Nation, Tristan da Cunha is acutely aware of maritime hazards. Tristan has no official Lifeboat service, but the island archipelago has seen many shipwrecks over the years. In fact, many of the first settlers were people saved from a shipwreck. They were so captivated by the island that they stayed and become part of the settlement. The population has repeatedly shown its willingness to aid those in peril on the seas, despite great personal risk.
Tristan has chosen to release two issues to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the creation of the RNLI. Part 1 depicts various rescue boats used by the RNLI during its history. Part 2 depicts Tristan Rescue Boats that have been used over the years.
Description of the Stamps
55p - The ZETLAND 1802 - The ZETLAND is the oldest surviving lifeboat. Public apathy in regard to shipwrecks was temporarily swept away in 1789 by the wreck of a ship called  ADVENTURE . This vessel was stranded during a violent storm only 300 yards from the shore. Her crew dropped, one by one, into the raging breakers in the presence of thousands of spectators, none of whom dared to put off in an ordinary boat to attempt a rescue. The disaster inspired a lifeboat design competition with a reward of 2 guineas (i.e. £2.10) for the best design.
Among the entrants were Parish Clerk William Wouldhave and Boatbuilder Henry Francis Greathead, both from South Shields. Neither design was an outright winner. Instead, the committee asked Henry Greathead, who went on to become known as the inventor of the lifeboat, to build a boat using ideas from both designs. The ZETLAND is Greathead's only surviving original type lifeboat. Built in 1802, she saved over 500 lives during her 78 years of service.
Info given by Tristan da Cunha post-office https://www.tristandc.com/po/stamps202403.php
Wikipedia gives:

ZETLAND (lifeboat) The ZETLAND is the oldest surviving lifeboat in the world. It is currently in a free museum in Redcar, England. The name ZETLAND comes from the local Lord of Manor, the Marquess of ZETLAND. The ZETLAND is on the National Register of Historic Ships, as part of the National Historic Fleet.

The lifeboat was stationed at Redcar in 1802, built by Henry Greathead of South Shields.

Not all rescue attempts were successful. On Christmas Day 1836, a crewman was washed from the ZETLAND and drowned during a vain attempt to save the crew of the Danish brig CAROLINE. The man, William Guy, was a Tees pilot, and it is said that he left a service in chapel to take his place in the lifeboat.

During 1858 the Tees Bay Lifeboat Society decided to hand over the administration of their boats to the RNLI. On 17 February 1864, the ZETLAND sustained damage whilst rescuing the crew of seven from the brig BROTHERS. The RNLI considered the old boat no longer fit for service and supplied a new self-righting lifeboat named CROSSLEY. Arrangements were made to have the ZETLAND broken up and a local carpenter was employed to carry out the task. An angry crowd prevented the work commencing and, after negotiation, the boat was given to the townspeople providing it would not 'compete' with the new RNLI lifeboat.

In 1872, the ZETLAND was repaired following fundraising which totalled £100. In 1880, it was launched with two other Redcar lifeboats (the CROSSLEY and the EMMA) and saved seven sailors' lives from the brig LUNA.

1864 Taken out of service.
She is now preserved in the Zetland Lifeboat Museum.

Tristan da Cunha 2024 55p sg?, Scott?