the urging of Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton, the United States Congress created the Revenue-Marine on 4 August 1790. Under the enabling legislation that authorized the Revenue-Marine, a "System of Cutters", consisting of ten ships, were initially ordered and constructed. John Foster Williams was commissioned as a Revenue-Marine officer by President George Washington 21 March 1791 and given oversight of construction of the cutter Massachusetts which he later commanded. After Massachusetts was determined to be too slow for her assigned tasks she was decommissioned and Massachusetts II was constructed and commissioned in 1793; Williams was chosen as master. Later life and death Williams died in Boston on 24 June 1814. Legacy The ship was named for him. References Citations Works cited 1743 births 1814 deaths People from colonial Boston Massachusetts militiamen in the American Revolution Continental Navy personnel People of colonial Massachusetts Burials at Granary Burying Ground