James Stevens lifeboats

The James Stevens lifeboats were a series of twenty lifeboats which were purchased by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) using a legacy received in 1894 from the estate of Mr James Stevens, the largest number of RNLI lifeboats funded from a single donation[1].

The RNLI received a £50,000 legacy in 1894 (equivalent to £7,191,000 in 2023) from the estate of Mr James Stevens, a developer, from Edgbaston in Birmingham.

They were built to several different designs and sizes to suit the needs of their stations.

As was usual at this time, most were 'pulling and sailing' lifeboats, provided with oars but also fitted with sails for when conditions allowed their use.

4 were both built with steam engines, while James Stevens No.

A small blue boat seen from the side. It has a mast at the front and a mast in the centre from which a white and red RNLI flag is flying.
RNLB James Stevens No. 10