Sumner Increase Kimball
General Superintendent of the United States Life-Saving Service
In office
1878–1915
Preceded byOffice created
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Member of the Maine House of Representatives
In office
1859–1861
Personal details
Born(1834-09-02)September 2, 1834
Lebanon, Maine, United States
DiedJune 20, 1923(1923-06-20) (aged 88)
Washington, D.C., United States
Alma materBowdoin College
Signature

Sumner Increase Kimball (September 2, 1834 – June 20, 1923) was the organizer of the United States Life-Saving Service and the General Superintendent of the Life-Saving Service from 1878–1915. Originally a lawyer and a legislative administrator, Kimball spent his life creating and leading the Life-Saving Service, one of the predecessor services that eventually became the U.S. Coast Guard, transforming it from an uneven collection of facilities round the U.S. coastline into a coherent and well-trained organization.

Biography

Sumner Increase Kimball was born in Lebanon, Maine, on September 2, 1834.[1] Raised in Sanford, Maine, he graduated from Bowdoin College in 1855, and was admitted to the bar in 1858. He was elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 1859.[2]

He became a clerk in the United States Treasury Department in 1862, and was placed in charge of the Revenue Marine Bureau there in 1871. When the Life-Saving Bureau was organized in 1878 he was appointed its head. Under his direction, the Life-Saving Service was extended to the Pacific Coast and the Great Lakes. He served as superintendent of the Lifesaving Service for 37 years.

Kimball also served in several other positions at the Treasury Department (acting Register, acting Comptroller, acting Solicitor). He was the author of Organization and Methods of the United States Life-Saving Service (1889) and Joshua James: Life-Saver (1909).

He died at his home in Washington, D.C., on June 20, 1923.[3]

Legacy

USCGC Kimball (WMSL-756) sailing near Hawaii, August 2019

The Coast Guard cutter USCGC Kimball (WMSL-756) is named in Kimball's honor. She is a Legend-class cutter, also known as a National Security Cutter. As of 2022, these are the largest and most capable cutters in the Coast Guard fleet. They can perform a wide array of law enforcement duties, as well coastal defense and anti-terrorism if needed. They can also be called upon by the Department of Defense to work with the U.S. Navy in a both a national defense capacity, as well as performing military missions overseas.

References

  1. ↑ The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. II. James T. White & Company. 1921. pp. 348–349. Retrieved May 10, 2021 – via Google Books.
  2. ↑ Maine Legislators' Biographical Database
  3. ↑ "Sumner Kimball Claimed By Death". The Evening Star. June 21, 1923. p. 7. Retrieved May 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.


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