Bust of Samuel Plimsoll, Hotwell Road, Hotwells, Bristol
Samuel Plimsoll was born in Bristol on 10th February, 1824. He became involved in shipping coal to London and took up the issue of safety at sea. In 1876 he managed to persuade Parliament to amend the 1871 Merchant Shipping Act. The amendment provided for the marking of a line on a ship's sides which would disappear below the water line if the ship was overloaded. The line is still used and is known as the 'Plimsoll Line'. He was MP for Derby 1824-1898.
