Sailors’ Society is an international Christian charity working in ports across the world.
After the Napoleonic Wars ended, the need for ships declined, and many former seafarers became destitute. In 1818, George Charles 'Bosun' Smith, a preacher and former sailor, called a public meeting at the City of London Tavern in Bishopsgate. This resulted in the formation of the society with the aim of relieving the plight of the sailors. It gained much patronage from the British royal family as well as the monarchies of Italy and Russia.
It now has chaplains and ship visitors in many ports around the world.
Like many other organisations of this type the name has changed over the years. From JISC: "Originally known as the Port of London Society, the society was renamed The British & Foreign Sailors' Society at a public meeting in July 1833. A board of directors was elected, consisting of forty-five clergymen and twenty-eight laymen, among which were Royal Naval and Mercantile Marine Officers and Members of Parliament. The British and Foreign Sailors' Society continued until 1925 when its name was changed to The British Sailors' Society. In 1995 it became the British and International Sailors' Society (BISS)."
Wikipedia picks up the name story: "In 1995 the name was changed to The British & International Sailors’ Society. The most recent name change took place on 1 December 2007 when the present name {Sailors' Society} was adopted."
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk
