On April 8, 1879, the Edward Cooper, was launched from the Samuel Pine shipyard in Greenpoint, Brooklyn at the foot of Kent Street.

During the Ceremonial ship launching, Sadie W. Heath christened the boat by breaking a sacrificial bottle of champagne over the bow.

[1][2] The Edward Cooper, was registered as a Pilot Schooner with the Record of American and Foreign Shipping, from 1881 to 1893.

Her ship master was George Waldie (1881-1883) and Captain Jacob Heath (1884-1893); her owners were N. Y.

The Cooper saved her by attaching steel cables to the liner, which were used as a drag and rudder.

[6][7] On February 27, 1892, Pilot James Smith fell overboard and drowned off Barnegat Light, New Jersey, while trying to board the steamer Van Dyck from the pilot-boat Edward Cooper, No.

[8] On Christmas Day, December 25, 1892, the Cooper fell victim of a snowstorm when waves crashed into the boat causing her to sink.