The United States Coast Guard has its roots in the Revenue Cutter Service, which was established by George Washington in 1790 to enforce maritime laws, collect tariffs and revenue much needed for the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and to end smuggling along the Atlantic Coast. Initially called the Revenue-Marines, the Revenue Cutter Service was initially given ten ships called “cutters” with which to carry out their duties and were the only maritime defense of the nation between 1785 (when the Continental Navy was disbanded) and 1798 (when the United States Navy was created).

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A few years before the establishment of the Revenue Cutter Service, Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts aimed to prevent shipwreck associated deaths. They began erecting life-saving stations along the coast and, over the course of the next 100 years, additional stations were added throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island as were provisions for the employment of surfmen. In 1878, this network was officially established as part of the Treasury Department and called the United States Life-Saving Service (USLSS). Over the course of the next 37 years, the USLSS grew to 13 Districts across the continental United States.