These cutters were the backbone of the United States Revenue-Marine for more than a decade.

Samuel Humphreys designed these cutters for roles as diverse as fighting pirates, privateers, combating smugglers and operating with naval forces.

He designed the vessels on a naval schooner concept.

The vessels, built by Webb and Allen, were designed by Isaac Webb and resembled Humphreys' design but had one less port.

[1] According to William Thiessen, this was the first class of cutters where all ships were identical.