Sumner Increase Kimball

Sumner Increase Kimball
General Superintendent of the United States Life-Saving Service
In office 1878–1915
Preceded by	Office created
Succeeded by	Office 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
Died	June 20, 1923(1923-06-20) (aged 88) Washington, D.C., United States
Alma mater	Bowdoin College
Signature

Sumner Increase Kimball (September 2, 1834 – June 20, 1923) was the organizer of the

, 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

. 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

The Coast Guard cutter

in a both a national defense capacity, as well as performing military missions overseas.

References

External links

• Biography - detailed biography, with photographs, on U.S. Coast Guard website
• The United States Life-Saving Service, contemporary article printed in The Bay State Monthly, 1890
• Sumner Increase Kimball at Find a Grave