Darling, Grace

Darling, Grace (1815-42), heroine, b. Bamburgh, Northumberland, England.

Grace Darling was the daughter of the keeper of Longstone lighthouse in the Farne Islands off the coast of Northumberland. She lived in the lighthouse with her father and mother.

On 6 September, 1838, a terrible gale raged and next morning a ship was seen wrecked on the rocks close by. It was the Forfarshire.

Forty-three people had been drowned during the night but nine were still clinging to the wreck. The storm was still blowing and the seas were rough but Grace helped her father to row a small boat to the wreck. The survivors were all saved.

When the story of the rescue was told, £1,000 was collected for Grace and her father and the Royal Humane Society awarded each of them a silver medal.