Hopley Yeaton
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Hopley Yeaton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1739 |
| Died | May 12, 1812 (aged 73) |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch |  Revenue Cutter Service |
| Known for | First naval commissioned officer under the U.S. Constitution.[1] |
Hopley Yeaton (1739 – May 12, 1812) was the first officer commissioned (March 21, 1791) under the Constitution of the United States by George Washington into the Revenue-Marine (later known as the Revenue Cutter Service), one of the forerunners of the modern-day United States Coast Guard.[2][3] The Coast Guard was created when Congress merged the Revenue Cutter Service with the U.S. Lifesaving Service in 1915.[4]
Born in Somersworth, New Hampshire, Yeaton served as a lieutenant in the Continental Navy on board the frigates USS Raleigh and USS Deane. After his commissioning in the newly formed Revenue-Marine he was appointed by President George Washington as the commanding officer of the Revenue-Marine cutter Scammel.[1] Yeaton probably brought along his slave, Senegal Thompson, during Scammel's patrols, as this practice was permitted by the Treasury Department at this time.[5] Yeaton fired three of his crew after their first few months of service. The men had been in "open rebellion" over issues of pay and daily food rations—particularly after they learned that their fellow sailors aboard USRC Massachusetts received more and varied foods each day than they did.
Retirement
Yeaton resigned his commission on September 11, 1809.[6] He suffered from poor health and retired to a farm at Eastport, Maine at the age of seventy.[7][Note 1] He was active in community affairs and assisted in the incorporation of the town of Lubec. He died at the age of seventy three.[8]