Illustration of some of the rocket-based maritime rescue systems created in the 19th century following the success of the Manby Mortar invented by George Manby in 1807 that fired a line to from the shore to a ship that was capable of rescuing the stranded mariners in distress. The largest number of shipwrecks occurred when driven on to the shore. Wrecks were commonplace with a great loss of life. Manby's Mortar, known as the breeches buoy, was followed by other inventors producing many versions of line-throwing rockets and other launching devices, cork contrivances etc. etc.