The Revenue Cutter Service purchased Active at Baltimore, Maryland, in August 1816.

Although she worked in New York City for a short time in 1817, Active served on the Chesapeake Bay for most of her career.

During her first year of service, another USRC Active, chartered in 1812, was in commission, meaning that in 1816-1817 the Revenue Cutter Service had two ships named Active in commission at the same time.

In the early nineteenth century, new laws in the United States prohibited the slave trade between the United States and foreign countries and required the enforcement of Neutrality Acts from 1815 to 1823 during troubles with European nations, creating new missions for the Revenue Cutter Service.

Active was part of the service's efforts to suppress the slave trade and piracy.