Hopley Yeaton
First Commissioned officer of the revenue cutter service
About Hopley Yeaton
Lived 1739 – 1812 (aged 72–73). Hopley Yeaton was a sailor and ship's master, known for Revenue Cutter Service.
Naval service Born in Somersworth, New Hampshire, Yeaton served as a lieutenant in the Continental Navy on board the frigates USS Raleigh and USS Deane. After his commissioning in the newly formed Revenue-Marine he was appointed by President George Washington as the commanding officer of the Revenue-Marine cutter Scammel. Yeaton probably brought along his slave, Senegal Thompson, during Scammel's patrols, as this practice was permitted by the Treasury Department at this time. Yeaton fired three of his crew after their first few months of service. The men had been in "open rebellion" over issues of pay and daily food rations—particularly after they learned that their fellow sailors aboard USRC Massachusetts received more and varied foods each day than they did.
Retirement Yeaton resigned his commission on September 11, 1809. He suffered from poor health and retired to a farm at Eastport, Maine at the age of seventy. He was active in community affairs and assisted in the incorporation of the town of Lubec. He died at the age of seventy three.
Hopley Yeaton Walk of History Plaque On August 2, 2008, in a bid to help affirm Grand Haven, Michigan, as "Coast Guard City USA", the Walk of History was revealed to the public at Coast Guard Station Grand Haven. The first point of history on the walk was the Hopley Yeaton Plaque, which was ceremonially unveiled by Vice Adm. Clifford Pearson and Andrew Yeaton, a direct descendant of Hopley Yeaton.
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Important facts
People in Hopley Yeaton's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Hopley Yeaton?
First Commissioned officer of the revenue cutter service
When was Hopley Yeaton born?
Hopley Yeaton was born in 1739 in New Hampshire.
When did Hopley Yeaton die?
Hopley Yeaton died on 12 May 1812 in Lubec.
What was Hopley Yeaton's occupation?
Hopley Yeaton was a sailor and ship's master.
What was Hopley Yeaton known for?
Hopley Yeaton was known for Revenue Cutter Service.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Hopley Yeaton. https://biography.guide/hopley-yeaton/
MLA: "Hopley Yeaton." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/hopley-yeaton/.
Chicago: "Hopley Yeaton." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/hopley-yeaton/.
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