<P> The United States Revenue Cutter Service was established by an act of Congress ( 1 Stat. 175 ) on 4 August 1790 as the Revenue - Marine upon the recommendation of Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton to serve as an armed customs enforcement service . As time passed , the service gradually gained missions either voluntarily or by legislation , including those of a military nature . It was generally referred to as the Revenue - Marine until July 1894 , when it was officially renamed the Revenue Cutter Service . </P>
which branch of the service was once known as the revenue marine
the Revenue Cutter Service