Founding of the U.S. Marine Corps
The forerunner of the United States Marines was established on November 10, 1775, in the midst of the American Revolutionary War.
The earliest American Marines served with the British in the 1730s. Some 3,000 American colonists were recruited to serve with Admiral Edward Vernon’s fleet for service off the coast of South America. When hostilities there ended, the Colonial Marines were disbanded. They were recalled to service several times in the ensuing years and by the start of the Revolutionary War there were still some 4,500 Americans serving in the Colonial Marines.
At the start of the revolution, the Continental Congress was hesitant to form a navy, as they feared fighting the world’s strongest fleet. But it soon became apparent that the revolution would have to include a naval war. In the early months of the war, there was no Continental Navy. Colonies had their own navies and Marines, but the responsibilities of each weren’t clearly defined.
In October 1775, John Adams and other members of Congress pushed for a Continental Navy. It was formed on October 13 with a squadron of four merchantmen and two smaller ships. The Continental Congress met again on November 9 and spoke with the Naval Committee about launching an amphibious expedition to Halifax, Nova Scotia. They hoped to send Marines to fight at sea before pushing ashore and destroying the military base there, as well as securing supplies if possible. The next day, on November 10, the Naval Committee was instructed to raise two Marine battalions.
Samuel Nicholas was charged with recruiting the two battalions. A Philadelphia native, he set himself up in a local bar (either the Tun Tavern or the Conestoga Waggon) to recruit able men with experience at sea. Men flocked to the bar both for the cold beer and the chance to serve in the new Marines Corps. The Marines were officially resolved when Nicholas was commissioned a captain on November 28. Some 2,000 enlistees and 131 officers served with the Marines during the Revolution, aiding America in its victory over the British. In spite of this, the Marines and the Navy were disbanded after the war ended in 1783.
Conflicts arose in the following years and the Navy was eventually re-established in May 1798. Interestingly, the man that called for the establishment of the Continental Marines years earlier was now President and making a similar request. On July 11, President John Adams signed legislation establishing the Marine Corps as a permanent military force under the Department of the Navy.
The U.S. Marines first fought in the Quasi-War with France and against the Barbary pirates of North Africa. They went on to fight in every major war in which the U.S. participated. During their 240 years of service, the Marines have made over 300 landings on foreign shores.
Though the Marines have the fewest active duty soldiers in the U.S. armed forces (less than 190,000), they are some of the world’s most elite soldiers, able to launch major operations anywhere in the world with just two weeks’ notice.
Click the images to add this history to your collection.
Hated history in high school but through collecting stamps and now through these articles you have made history come alive for me and I look forward each morning for your email. Thank you and thank you to all those who do the research.
Carolyn
My family has been on these shores since 1630. I am not sure if any of our early ancestors were in the Marines but my dad was an proud of it. Our Marines have a proud tradition.
Always welcomed. Very! interesting. An excellent source of knowledge.
I am a Professor Emeritus of History of The University of Mississippi, and I am pleased to see this day in history presented in such a professional manner. I would hope that this continues.
Semper Fi. I served in the Marines from 1961 to 1965..Although I am a Canadian, I am proud
of my service in the marines
As always, yours is one of the first emails I open. Love it!!!
‘Happy Birthday US Marines”
‘Sempher Fi”
‘Don’t Mess With the Best!”
Have Many More Birthdays to Come!
Jeff Witt (2015)
They are the few, the proud, the Marines – and they certainly don’t like to be called soldiers. The Army has soldiers, the Navy has sailors, the Air Force has airmen, while the Marine Corps has Marines. Otherwise a great article.
Semper Fi. I served in the Marines from 1960 to 1966. Alway’s a Marine. !!!!!
Thanks for the great information you share. There have been several Family members and friends that were in the Marines, From WW11 to the Irag war.
I was a marine wife. My dear Marine fought in WWII. and Korea. Iwo Jima, Marshall Islands and the Chosin Reservoir in Korea. He earned the Silver Star, The Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. He was not only a good Marine but a wonderful husband and father. Semper Fi.
Thank you for your servie ma’am.
Once a Marine always a Marine. Served with pride active duty 1957 -1960 thankyou for remembering our birthday
Semper Fi! Always should remember the Marines of Fox 2/5 who gave so much on Operation Union II in Vietnam’s Quang Tin Province. Most people have never heard of the Battle of Vinh Huy. Welcome home all veterans and a hand salute to you.
Enjoy the history of a stamp each day and today is a special day, Marine Corp birthday! Proud to have served with the Marines in Viet Nam 69-70! Semper Fi! Thank you Mystic Stamp! A Marine forever and a stamp collector forever!
Happy Birthday to the U. S. Marine Corps and a big THANK YOU to all of those Marines out there who gave so freely of themselves and helped keep our freedoms intact the last 240 years. God Bless. Semper Fi.
semper fi