Let’s look at the early American lighthouses and the leadership of America’s lighthouses. From the get-go in 1716, until the establishment of the Ninth Act of Congress federalizing American lighthouse, the new United States had only 11 lighthouses in the colonies, each built by their individual colony, and four more for a total of fifteen established after the federalization of America’s lighthouses. The lighthouses are:
Boston Light 1716, and the current structure built in 1783 (after an attack by the British in during the Revolutionary War, ; Brant Point Light, 1746, and the current structure built in 1901; Beavertail Lighthouse, established in 1749, current structure built in 1856; New London Harbor Light, 1760, current structure 1801; Sandy Hook, 1764; Cape Henlopen, 1767 collapsed due to erosion; Charleston (Morris Island) 1768 destroyed in 1861 in the Civil War; Plymouth Twin Lights, 1768; current structure built in 1843; Portsmouth Harbor, 1771, destroyed by fire in 1800 and replaced in 1804; Cape Ann (Thatcher Island), 1771 and replaced in 1861; Tybee Island, 1773? Unlighted beacons 1736 & 1742 and destroyed by fire in 1862 during the Civil War; Great Point Lighthouse, 1785, current structure built in 1986; Newburyport Harbor Light, 1788, current structure built in 1898; Portland Head, established in 1791; Bakers Light established in 1791, current structure built in 1820. Nearly all of the first lighthouses built at these stations were initially made of wood, and eventually destroyed by age, weather or rot. Sandy Hook Lighthouse in New Jersey (on the New Jersey Shore) was financed and built from the proceeds of a lottery run by New York merchants to light the way into New York Bay and Manhattan. Many early lights were bankrolled by lottery tickets. Of all our lights, Sandy Hook is the longest continually operating tower in the nation. It is also this author’s “first” light.
Federal leadership of lighthouses came from the Ninth Act of the First Congress (1789), signed by President Washington, which said that the individual states turn over their lighthouse stations, including those under construction and those proposed, to our new central government. Thus, coastal lights and beacons, some in remote locations, would become physical and real symbols of the new Federal government, and mark not only their location, but also mark nationhood in literal and emblematic sense.
This Ninth Act created the US Lighthouse Establishment and our aids to navigation became the responsibility of the first Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton also had the responsibility to pay off the Revolutionary War debts. His establishing tariffs for each of our ports to collect, paid those debts in just under seven years.
At the beginning, Hamilton reviewed lighthouse contracts and the appointment of keepers, in addition to his duties as Treasurer. Eventually, Albert Gallatin, appointed by President Jefferson as Secretary of the Treasury kept this responsibility until the Commissioner of Revenue office was abolished. At that time in 1820, Stephen Pleasonton, the Fifth Auditor of the Treasury, was assigned the responsibilities. We shall soon meet him.
Today, there are a few other American lighthouses maintained by foundations like the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse. Other lighthouses are the responsibility of states, counties, or cities. Most surviving American lighthouses are part of the US Coast Guard’s responsibility.