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United States Coast Guard was founded
U. S. Coast Guard HistoryCongress authorized the construction of ten vessels to enforce federal tariff and trade laws and to prevent smuggling. Known variously through the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as the "revenue cutters," the "system of cutters," the Revenue Marine and finally the Revenue Cutter Service. The USCG expanded in size and responsibilities as the nation grew. -
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The United States Coast Guard's role in US History
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Revenue Cutter Services merges with Life-Saving Service
The service received its present name the US Coast Guard in 1915 under an act of Congress that merged the Revenue Cutter Service with the Life-Saving Service, thereby providing the nation with a single maritime service dedicated to saving life at sea and enforcing the nation's maritime laws. -
US Lighthouse Sevice merges with the US Coast Guard
The Coast Guard began to maintain the country's aids to maritime navigation, including operating the nation's lighthouses, when President Franklin Roosevelt ordered the transfer of the Lighthouse Service to the Coast Guard in 1939. -
Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation merges with US Coast Guard
In 1946 Congress permanently transferred the Commerce Department's Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation to the Coast Guard, thereby placing merchant marine licensing and merchant vessel safety under responsibility of the US Coast Guard. -
US Coast Guard becomes lead agency of Homeland Security
Homeland SecurityThe Department of Homeland Security is formed. Dedicated to preventing terrorist attacks within the United States, reducing America's vulnerability to terrorism, and minimizing the damage from potential attacks and natural disasters.
