Revenue Cutter Service History

175 on 4 august 1790 as the revenue marine upon the recommendation of secretary of the treasury alexander hamilton to serve as an armed customs enforcement service.

Revenue cutter service history. Given to the revenue cutter service by new jersey inventor edwin stevens the gunboat served with the james river flotilla. The united states revenue cutter service was established by an act of congress on 4 august 1790 as the revenue marine upon the recommendation of secretary of the treasury alexander hamilton to serve as an armed customs enforcement service. Privately printed by special arrangement with the naval historical foundation 1932. The american founding father was responsible for the united states entire treasury during difficult financial times a result of america s long fight for liberty.

Keenly aware of the need to protect the young nation s customs revenue maintain safe. The founding and history of the revenue cutter service at just 32 years old alexander hamilton was faced with a difficult situation. Rear admiral elliot snow u s. The united states revenue cutter service was established by an act of congress 1 stat.

The united states revenue cutter service officially the division of revenue cutter service was established in 1790 as the revenue marine by then secretary of the treasury alexander hamilton to serve as an armed maritime law enforcement service it operated as the revenue marine until july 1894 when it was renamed as the revenue cutter service. The first ten revenue service cutters were ten oceangoing cutters built at the behest of the 1st united states congress in the early 1790s to crack down on smuggling. The united states revenue cutter service was established by an act of congress 1 stat. As time passed the service gradually gained missions either voluntarily or by legislation including those of a military nature.

At the time a cutter was a small fast sailing vessel described as a small decked ship with one mast and bowsprit with a gaff mainsail on a boom a square. Early history of the united states revenue marine service or united states revenue cutter service 1789 1849. Alexander hamilton the first secretary of the treasury suggested the creation of the revenue cutter service in a letter dated october 2 1789. The gunboat naugatuck proved a unique cutter in the service s history.

Since the united states navy had at the time not yet been formed it was established in 1798 these ten cutters of the newly formed revenue marine therefore represent the united states government s first official armed force. As time passed the service gradually gained missions either voluntarily or by legislation including those of a military nature. As time passed the service gradually gained missions either voluntarily or by legislation including those of a military nature.