For years after their invention, the greater part of the coast was without lifeboats, until Sir William Hillary, who, while residing in the Isle of Man, had seen numerous vessels cast away, and lives lost, expressed his wishes to Mr Thomas Wilson, M.P. for the City of London; and the two gentlemen called a meeting in 1824, the result of which was the establishment of the "Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck."  From that time forward great encouragement was given to the building of lifeboats; and there are few parts of the coast now without them.  Of course, a lifeboat must differ greatly from a common open boat, for even the best of them is easily filled with water, or upset.