Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Captain William Cooke Pease USRM: One of the Founders of the Modern Coast Guard

From the Martha's Vineyard Museum.

(1819-1865)

He commanded the Revenue Cutter William R, macy in the capture of the Confederate privateer Neva.

Joined the U.S. Revenue Marine Service in 1839 and quickly rose in rank.  Held stations in San Francisco, the California coast and the Northwest Territory of Washington.  In the process, he commanded several revenue cutters, one of which was the William L. Marcy.

He also designed and built new cutters for the Great Lakes and refitted many aging vessels along the West Coast.  He and his crew were commended for a dramatic ship rescue off the Carolina coast in 1854.

Captain Pease died of typhoid in December 1865, age 46 aboard his cutter off Charleston, S.C..  His body was brought back to Edgartown by a cutter.

He is regarded as a founder of the modern Coast Guard.

Important Man in U.S. Coast Guard History.  --Old B-Runner




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