A line drawing by Donald G. McGibbon, Jr., PA2, USCGR, using as historical references its official description, and Howard I. Chapelle, The History of the American Sailing Navy: The Ships and Their Development (New York: Bonanza Books, 1949)."; G-APA-08-10-76 (01); 1976; drawn by PA2 Donald G. McGibbon, Jr., USCGR; copy of image in Jefferson Davis cutter file, USCG Historian's Office. The Revenue cutter Jefferson Davis was named for the man who would become the first and only president of the Confederacy although at the time of the cutter's launch in 1853, and the reason for this singular honor, he was President Franklin Pierce's Secretary of War. In fact all vessels of this class were named for members of President Pierce's cabinet. She was a 90-plus foot topsail schooner that displaced about 150 tons. She was built by J.M. Hood of Bristol, RI. She survived a hurricane in 1853 with slight damage and put into Charleston for repairs. After reentering service, she sailed to San Francisco around Cape Horn to serve on the west coast, arriving in July, 1854. She participated in the suppression of a Native American uprising in Olympia, WA in 1855. She was converted to a "Marine Hospital Boat" in 1862.