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American politician
Sumner Increase Kimball
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In office
1878?1915
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Preceded by
| Office created
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Succeeded by
| Office abolished
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In office
1859?1861
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Born
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1834-09-02
)
September 2, 1834
Lebanon, Maine
, United States
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Died
| June 20, 1923
(1923-06-20)
(aged 88)
Washington, D.C.
, United States
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Alma mater
| Bowdoin College
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Signature
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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
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edit
]
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
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edit
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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
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External links
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International
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