On this day in 1837 John Macintosh was granted the patent for LIFE BOAT. U.S. Patent No. 462.
A canvas is taken, of other flexible material, and render it impervious to water by means of a solution of caoutchouc, or in any other of the known ways of effecting this object; and of this flexible material, so saturated, the vessel which is to contain the persons, or things intended to be buoyed up, and conveyed upon the water. Such a vessel may be made to assume a variety of forms dependent upon the purpose for which it is to be used, whether for one or more persons, the transportation of troops and baggage, or for other objects.
