USCGC Joshua Appleby (WLM-556) is a United States Coast Guard Keeper-class cutter based out of St. Petersburg, Florida.

Secondary missions include Alien Migration Intercept Operation (AMIO), search and rescue (SAR), and pollution response.

Hurricanes in 1841 and 1842 caused considerable damage to the key, destroying Appleby's house and undermining the foundation of the light.

A hurricane in 1844 swept away half of the key, part of the sea wall, and again destroyed Appleby's house.

On 11 October 1846, Appleby, his 51-year-old daughter Eliza, and his 11-year-old grandson Thomas were swept away to become additional victims of the hurricane which was calculated to have caused the deaths of at least 255 people.