Many lives have been lost by lifeboat crews going to the aid of people and vessels in distress at sea and around the coasts of Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, mainly but not exclusively in the service of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). More than 600 names are inscribed on the RNLI Memorial at RNLI HQ, Poole. Some losses predate the RNLI (founded in 1824).

19th century In the 19th century, lifeboats were almost exclusively oar and sail powered. Self-righting boats had been developed but were not yet widely adopted.

British Isles lifeboat disasters in the 19th century DateLifeboat stationLifeboat crew lostMemorialBrief details and references1810 The men drowned when the lifeboat capsized in heavy seas while trying to aid the grounded ship Traveller.1810The private lifeboat sponsored by Sir Matthew Ridley was wrecked on its first service to a number of Cullercoats fishing boats, caught in a sudden storm off St Mary's island in 1810. 15 lifeboat crew lost their lives.1821Sandycove The men drowned while the lifeboat was assisting the brig Ellen of Liverpool.1824Great YarmouthOn 23 November 1824 a boat was launched by eight Great Yarmouth beachmen in an attempt to rescue the crew of the stricken vessel Jessie. Whilst attempting to board the Jessie a heavy sea fell on board their boat which immediately sunk her and resulted in the loss of five of the crew.see: The Norfolk Chronicle. 27 November 1824. p.3.1833Lifeboat 'Assistance' capsized on second approach to the brig Mary Ann. 3 men lost (Benjamin Pile, Samuel Blackmore and John Peake); 4 rescued from the sea by 2nd lifeboat 'Volunteer'. One man survived in the upturned boat, washed ashore an hour later.1836Lifeboat turned over by exceptional sea; four of the 14 crew survived.1836Bowman William Guy was lost after being washed out of the lifeboat Zetland on service to the brig Caroline on 25 December.1841 Four lifeboat crew drowned when the 'East Side Lifeboat" capsized on service, 6 October 1841.1841 On 28 October 1841, the lifeboat went to the assistance of the brig Sibsons and was capsized; two of the 12 crew survived.1845Great YarmouthThe yawl Phoenix was wrecked whilst going to the assistance of the collier brig Ann with the loss of seven of the fifteen people on board. Survivors were rescued by the Caister Lifeboat.1847Lifeboat capsized on service to the fully-rigged vessel Soane on 16 September, with the loss of crew member William Owen.1849Lifeboat Providence of the Tyne Lifeboat Institution capsized on service to the brig Betsy on 4 December, with the loss of 20 of her 24 crew.1857The Liverpool Dock Trustees lifeboat capsized on 4 January, with the loss of all 13 crew.1857All crew lost off the lugger Victory on 5 January, when she capsized attempting to rescue the crew of the Northern Belle.1859Lifeboat capsized in December with the loss of three of her 15 crew.1861RNLI lifeboat Amelia wrecked on first service. Three members of the public who waded in also died, including Lord Charles Beauclerk.1861Lifeboat capsized after several rescues during a storm. Only one crewman survived, Henry Freeman.18642 crew of the RNLI lifeboat Constance washed from the boat and lost, on service to the schooner Friendship and the steamship Stanley on 24 November.1865Crew member William Hughes drowned when the lifeboat capsized on service to the schooner Henry Holman of Plymouth on 14 January 1865. 1866GorlestonOn 13 January 1866 the private lifeboat, Rescuer, capsized in a storm with the loss of 12 of her crew. A 13th fatality occurred when rescued crew member Robert Warner succumbed just days later as a direct result of the disaster.see: "The Late Life-boat Accident: The Norfolk News" 27 January 1866 1867GorlestonWhile returning to harbour after a rescue, a fishing lugger collided with the private lifeboat, Rescuer. She capsized and six of her crew and 19 other people drowned.1867 Lifeboat capsized during a service to the Georgiana. (Memorial on the wall of St. Petroc's church, Padstow)1871 Fisherman's lifeboat Harbinger lost in the Great Gale of 1871.18722 crew of the Tyne Institution lifeboat Northumberland lost, on service to the brig Gleaner on 18 December.1873Lifeboat Admiral Mitchell (1859) capsized on service to the schooner Sarah of Runcorn on 1 February.1874Four of the crew of the lifeboat St George drowned while trying to enter Aberdeen Harbour after going to assist Grace Darling of Blyth, which foundered between Stonehaven and Aberdeen.1875LiverpoolThree members of the Liverpool lifeboat crew and nine crew and passengers from the Ellen Southard drowned after the lifeboat capsized.1877Crew member Thomas Elliott suffered from exposure on service Result of Guernsey on 1 January 1877 and later died.1877The Coxswain and two crew members drowned, when the lifeboat Harriett Forteath capsized, on service to the schooner Agenoria, 9 January 1877.1877John James, a member of the crew, died from exhaustion after a long service to a Schooner on 20 February.1877Coxswain James Maynard drowned when the lifeboat Elizabeth Moore Garden capsized, on service to the schooner Elizabeth Scown on 3–4 March.1877Two crew members were lost when the lifeboat Wallace capsized whilst on exercise on 13 October.1880Wells lifeboat disasterWells-next-the-Sea Lifeboats. Author: Nicholas Leach & Paul Russell. Published by:Tempus Publishing Ltd, 2006. Work: Chapter 1.The first lifeboats at Wells – 1869 to 1888, page 14, Lifeboat Eliza Adams. 11 of the 13 crew of RNLI lifeboat Eliza Adams were lost when she capsized after an abortive attempt to go to the aid of the brig Ocean Queen in heavy seas. The crew of the brig survived.1881Great YarmouthThe lifeboat Abraham Thomas capsized on 18 January whilst attempting to rescue the mate of the schooner Guiding Star. The Abraham Thomas was struck by a heavy sea and lost six out of a crew of ten. The mate from the Guiding Star was also lost out of the lifeboat. 1881Second Coxswain James Pounder collapsed and died on 8 August whilst on lifeboat exercise.1883The lifeboat Wolverhampton was lost on service to the barque Admiral Prinz Adalbert of Danzig on 27 January; the tragedy was the inspiration for Clement Scott's poem The Women of Mumbles Head.1883One man lost when the lifeboat Thomas Lingham capsized on service to the Norman Court of Greenock on 30 March 1883.1885 The yawl Zephyr struck a sunken wreck on a distress call to a schooner on the Barber Sands. Eight of the 15 crew were lost.1886 14 of the 16 crew of Southport's lifeboat Eliza Fernley, and the whole crew of St Anne's lifeboat (see below) died while trying to aid the barque Mexico in heavy seas. It remains the worst lifeboat loss in history.1886The crew of the St Anne's lifeboat Laura Janet, along with most of Southport's crew died in the same incident (see above). The crew of Mexico were rescued by Lytham's lifeboat.1888GorlestonThe Refuge was a private lifeboat belonging to the Gorleston boatmen. After going to the assistance of the steamer Akaba the Refuge was being towed back to port when the tow-rope parted and she was driven onshore where she capsized with the loss of four of her seven crew.see: "Lifeboat Disaster at Yarmouth: The Eastern Daily Press" 12 November 18881889 Lifeboat The Robert and Agnes Blair (ON 158) went to the aid of the schooner Dryad and capsized off the coast off Portballintrae with the loss of three of the 13 crew.1891 Launched to the aid of the Benvenue, wrecked at Sandgate, Kent, RNLB Mayer de Rothschild (ON 35) capsized with the loss of one man. The boat and remaining crew were washed onto the beach, and after relaunching, rescued 27 lives.1892Coxswain Robert Jones died as a result of exposure and injuries, after falling on rocks, on service to the steamship Meath on 1 February 1892.1895William Roberts was run over by the lifeboat carriage during a launch on 28 December 1894, and died a few days later.1895KingstownKingstown's (now Dún Laoghaire) lifeboat Civil Service No. 7 (ON 409) capsized while attempting to rescue the crew of the stricken Palme. All 15 crew died.1897Nine of the 13 crew drowned when the private lifeboat Friend To All Nations capsized, on service to the ship Persian Empire of West Hartlepool.1898On service to the Norwegian vessel Fremad on 16 October 1898, the No.2 Lifeboat Oswald, Sarah & Jane (ON 250) capsized. Second Coxswain Mark Fairhurst was pulled ashore, but he didn't survive. 1899 The lifeboat Aldeburgh (ON 304) capsized with the loss of seven of the 18 crew.

20th century During the 20th century many advances were made in safety and durability of lifeboats, including self-righting and motor power. Life jackets were continuously being improved.