The office was established in 1795 and superseded by the Commissary General of Purchase in the War Department and the Secretary of the Navy respectively in 1812.
In the small peace-time army that existed after the Revolutionary War, logistic responsibilities were vested in civilian office holders.
In 1792, Congress made the Department of the Treasury in charge of acquisition of uniforms, military rations, weapons and ammunition.
[5] Although Alexander Hamilton had since 1790 argued for centralizing procurement of military supplies under the Department of the Treasury.
[9] From 1795 to 1801, the Purveyor was in charge of purchasing merchandise for the government fur trade factories and for disposing of the goods received from them.