Samuel Plimsoll (1824-1898) English politician and social reformer born at Bristol, called the sailor's friend. Campaigned against 'coffin ships', overloaded, unseaworthy vessles, often over insured. In 1876 the Merchant Shipping Act was passed by Parliament forcing all British registered ships to be marked with a line, the Plimsoll Line, marking its maximum loading. From Men of Mark by Thompson Cooper (London, c1880). Woodburytype after photograph by Lock & Whitfield (active 1860s-1880s), English photographers.