Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757 – July 12, 1804)

On August 4, 1790, the first U.S. Congress authorized
the construction of 10 vessels to patrol U.S. ports from
Massachusetts to Georgia.

The United States Coast Guard took form in this small
fleet of “cutters”—fast-moving, speedy sailboats—
tasked with intercepting marine smugglers and the
collecting of tariffs on imported goods.

It’s the brainchild of Alexander Hamilton, the first U.S.
secretary of the treasury under President George
Washington.

Originally called the “Revenue Marine” and then the
“Revenue Cutter Service,” the Coast Guard was one
of Hamilton’s many bold ideas for funding the U.S.
federal government, which was mired in debt after
the costly Revolutionary War.

Navy ships arrive on the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon
in 1939.

Since 1907, visiting ships have made their way to Portland’s waterfront.

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the coastal defense,
search and rescue, and maritime law enforcement branch of
the United States Armed Forces and one of the country’s eight
uniformed services. Created by the U.S. Congress on 4 August
1790 at the request of Alexander Hamilton as the Revenue-
Marine, it is the oldest continuous seagoing service of the
United States.