Many of these duties were spelled out in letters from the Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, to the various collectors of customs, wh… In 1822, with USS Peacock and HMS Speedwell, Alabama engaged pirates again, which resulted in the taking of five more pirate ships. At the outbreak of the War of 1812 the service was small and stretched thin. 47-Foot Motor Lifeboat - MLB. [16] Demands by the public to do something about losses in lives and property at sea prompted Secretary of the Treasury George S. Boutwell, under President Ulysses S. Grant, to reorganize the service. In accepting the position, Franklin dedicated his efforts to fulfilling George Washington's vision. 1375–1425; late Middle English