Named after Secretaries of the Treasury and Presidents of the United States, these cutters were the backbone of the Service 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.

The following year she operated with the US Navy, cruising on the west coast of Florida during the Seminole War.

In December 1840, Dexter was reported unseaworthy and the Government sold the cutter on 25 February 1841.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.