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Shown here at the original grave site of Hopley Yeaton are Peter C. Boyce, who owns the property where the original grave stone is located, and Timothy Harrison, editor and publisher of Lighthouse Digest.
Hopley Yeaton was the first commissioned officer of the Revenue Marine Service, which later became the Revenue Cutter Service, which in 1915 became the United States Coast Guard. Although Alexander Hamilton is considered the founder of the Coast Guard, Hopley Yeaton is considered the Father of the Coast Guard.
Hopley Yeaton is also credited with convincing the federal government to build West Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Lubec, Maine.
In 1974 the U.S. Coast Guard dug up the remains of Hopley Yeaton and reburied him on the grounds of West Quoddy Head Lighthouse. The following year, Hopley Yeaton’s remains were removed from West Quoddy Head Lighthouse and placed on board the USCGC Eagle and transported to New London, Connecticut and reburied on the grounds of the Coast Guard Academy.
When the Coast Guard removed the remains of Hopley Yeaton, Peter C. Boyce insisted that the Coast Guard place an engraved stone marker at the site explaining the history and significance of Hopley Yeaton.
This story appeared in the
Jan/Feb 2017 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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