USRC Hamilton (1830)

The United States Revenue Cutter Hamilton was one of 13 cutters of the Morris-Taney Class to be launched. Named after Secretaries of the Treasury and Presidents of the United States, these cutters were the backbone of the Service for more than a decade. Samuel Humphreys designed these cutters for roles as diverse as fighting pirates, privateers, combating smugglers and operating with naval forces. He designed the vessels on a naval schooner concept. They had Baltimore Clipper lines. The vessels built by Webb and Allen, designed by Isaac Webb, resembled Humphreys' but had one less port.[1]

A Morris-Taney class Revenue Cutter
History
United States
Namesake	Alexander Hamilton
Builder	New York Navy Yard
Commissioned	1830
Decommissioned	9 December 1853[1]
Homeport	Boston, Massachusetts, 1830–1851 Charleston, South Carolina, 1851–1853[2]
Fate	lost in a gale 1853
General characteristics
Class and type	Morris-Taney-class cutter
Displacement	112 tons
Length	78 ft (24 m)
Beam	20.6 ft (6.3 m)
Draft	9.7 ft (3.0 m) (aft)
Propulsion	sail
Sail plan	topsail schooner
Crew	20-24 officers and men
Armament	(4) 6-9 pndrs (typical of class)

The Hamilton, the fastest vessel in the class, was named for Founding Father Alexander Hamilton and operated out of Boston for much of her career. She became famous for rescues and saving of property. Josiah Sturgis was her captain for much of this time.[2] She became well known and extremely popular, so much so that music was written entitled the "Hamilton Quick step."[1] The Hamilton transferred to Charleston, South Carolina in 1851.[2] She was wrecked on the Tully Breakers on 9 December 1853 with the loss of fourteen of her fifteen crew.[3]