Scammel was one of the original ten cutters built and used by the United States Revenue Cutter Service. The "Schammel" was named by Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, after the American Revolutionary War Adjutant general of the army, Alexander Scammell. General Scammell was captured by the British at the Battle of Yorktown and shot. As with the USRC "General Green" (1791), the name is misspelled. The "Scammel" was built at Portsmouth, New Hampshire and launched in 1791. She was used to patrol New England waters.