Lifesaving at sea and the imperial state: A portrait of the initial donors of the Société Centrale de Sauvetage des Naufragés (1865)

Abstract

The Société Centrale de Sauvetage des Naufragés (SCSN), established in 1865, was tasked with operating lifeboats and rescuing victims of shipwreck along the French coast. While it was a private humanitarian organization, its creation was largely an initiative of the Napoleonic state. Its first president was an admiral, and it received substantial financial support from Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie. This article explores the impact of these state connections on the early existence of the SCSN, focusing on the nature of its donations and the political dimensions embedded in them. It highlights the tension between presenting maritime lifesaving as a universal humanitarian cause and the political motivations surrounding the foundation of the SCSN, notably its links with Napoleon III's maritime policies. By examining the donation patterns of the 5,170 initial contributors through quantitative methods, the article sheds light on the complex networks of actors and interests that shaped the organization's early financial support.