Who founded the U.S. Coast Guard?

The U.S. Coast Guard was founded by Alexander Hamilton when he established the Revenue Marine on August 4, 1790. Hamilton, as the first Secretary of the Treasury, recognized the need for a maritime enforcement agency to collect federal tariffs and prevent smuggling. This agency was the precursor to what we know today as the Coast Guard. Hamilton's emphasis on the importance of a naval force for the protection of the nation's interests laid the groundwork for the service's formation and subsequent evolution into its current multifaceted role that includes search and rescue, law enforcement, and maritime safety.

The other notable figures mentioned played significant roles in U.S. history and military, but they were not directly involved in the founding of the Coast Guard. John Paul Jones is regarded as the "Father of the American Navy," while Samuel Nicholas was a commander in the Continental Marines, and Thomas Jefferson, while influential in many areas, did not have a direct connection with the founding of the Coast Guard.