(CNN) From patrolling our waters to protecting the borders, the US Coast Guard has an important job. And on August 4, we celebrate Coast Guard Day, marking the date in 1790 when this branch of the military was founded by the US Congress.

In honor of the holiday, here are 10 things you may not have known about the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard is the oldest seagoing branch of the US military

When the Coast Guard was founded in 1790, it was known as the Revenue Marine. Authorized by Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton, the force was intended to enforce early tariff laws

The Continental Navy functioned during the Revolutionary War but was disbanded after the war ended. The modern US Navy wasn't created until 1794, making the Coast Guard America's longest-serving maritime defenders.