You’ve probably heard the legend. It’s November 10, 1775. A group of rugged men gathers in a smoky Philadelphia pub, knocks back a few ales, and decides to start the most elite fighting force in history. It sounds like a movie script. Honestly, the real story of the founding of the US Marine Corps is a bit messier, much more bureaucratic, and way more interesting than the "drunk guys in a bar" myth suggests.
The Continental Congress was stressed. They were staring down the barrel of a global superpower, the British Empire, and they had almost no way to defend their coastline. They needed a "shipboard security" force. They needed sharpshooters who could climb into the rigging of a ship and pick off officers on the enemy deck. So, they passed a resolution. Two battalions of Marines. That was the official birth.
The Resolution That Changed Everything
It started with a piece of paper, not a musket. On that November day in 1775, the Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. They weren't thinking about 250 years of tradition or dress blues. They were thinking about survival. John Adams was a huge proponent of this. He knew that if the colonies were going to win a war of independence, they couldn't just hide in the woods; they had to contest the sea.
The resolution was specific. It called for "such as are good seamen, or so acquainted with maritime affairs as to be able to serve to advantage by sea." They weren't looking for standard soldiers. They wanted a hybrid.
Samuel Nicholas was the man they tapped for the job. He’s widely considered the first commandant, though he didn't actually have that title at the time. He was a "Captain of Marines." Nicholas was a Philadelphian, a guy who knew his way around the local social scene, which is exactly how the legendary Tun Tavern enters the chat.
Why Tun Tavern Isn't Just a Myth
Some historians get a little pedantic and say, "Actually, the recruiting happened at the Conestoga Wagon tavern!" Well, maybe. But Tun Tavern was the hub. Robert Mullan, the proprietor of the tavern, was appointed a captain to help Nicholas find men.
Think about the atmosphere. It's cold outside. You're a young guy in Philadelphia, maybe out of work, maybe just looking for a fight. You walk into a warm pub, and there’s a guy offering you a bounty, some decent clothes, and a chance to stick it to King George. It was a hell of a sales pitch.
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The tavern served as the first "recruiting station." It wasn't a formal office with posters and a laptop. It was a ledger on a wooden table, a quill pen, and probably a few rounds of "Philadelphia Style" porter to seal the deal. This is why the founding of the US Marine Corps is so deeply tied to the "Old City" vibe of Philly. It was a grassroots effort born out of necessity and local networking.
The First "Dress Blues" Were Actually Green
Everyone knows the iconic blue uniform. But back in 1775, if you saw a Marine, he’d be wearing green. Why? Because green wool was cheap and plentiful in the colonies.
The original uniform consisted of a green coat with white facings. They wore "short clothes" or breeches and often had a leather stock around their necks. This is where the term "Leatherneck" comes from. It wasn't just for fashion. That stiff leather collar was designed to protect the jugular from cutlass slashes during boarding actions and to keep a man’s head up straight, giving him a disciplined military bearing.
Imagine being on a ship in the 18th century. It’s cramped. It’s wet. You’re wearing thick wool and a leather strap around your throat. It was brutal. These guys weren't just soldiers; they were essentially the ship's police force. They kept the sailors from mutinying and stood guard over the officer's quarters. It was a lonely job. You weren't exactly "one of the boys" with the sailors, and you weren't an officer. You were a Marine.
The New Providence Raid: The First Real Test
A few months after the founding of the US Marine Corps, they actually had to go do something. In March 1776, Samuel Nicholas led about 200 Marines and some sailors in an amphibious landing at Nassau in the Bahamas (then known as New Providence).
They were looking for gunpowder. The Continental Army was desperately low on it.
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The raid was... well, it was a learning experience. They captured the forts and took a significant amount of brass cannons and mortars. However, the British governor managed to ship out most of the actual gunpowder before the Marines could secure it. Still, it was the first time American Marines had ever "hit the beach." It proved the concept. You could put soldiers on a boat, land them in a foreign territory, and take an objective.
Disbanding and Rebirth
Here is a fact that trips people up: the Marine Corps actually ceased to exist for a while. After the Revolutionary War ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the Continental Navy and the Marines were essentially disbanded. The new government was broke. They sold off the ships. They sent the men home.
For 15 years, there were no US Marines.
It wasn't until July 11, 1798, that President John Adams signed the act that re-established the United States Marine Corps. This was driven by the "Quasi-War" with France. We needed a Navy again, and if you have a Navy, you need Marines. This second "founding" is why some people argue about the true age of the Corps, but the Marines themselves stick to the 1775 date. It's about the lineage, not the continuous payroll.
The "Mameluke" Sword and Tripoli
To understand how the early founding evolved into the modern mythos, you have to look at the Barbary Wars. This happened shortly after the 1798 rebirth.
In 1805, First Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon led a handful of Marines across 600 miles of the Libyan desert to capture the city of Derna. This was the "shores of Tripoli" mentioned in the hymn. After the victory, a local prince reportedly gave O'Bannon a Mameluke sword.
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To this day, Marine officers carry a version of that sword. It's one of the oldest pieces of hardware still in use by the US military. It connects the founding era to the modern era. It’s a bridge between the guys in green coats at Tun Tavern and the modern warfighter.
Common Misconceptions About the Founding
- The "First" Commandant: Samuel Nicholas is the traditional first, but William Ward Burrows was the first to actually hold the official title of "Commandant" under the 1798 Act.
- The Eagle, Globe, and Anchor: That didn't show up at the founding. It wasn't adopted until 1868. Early Marines used various symbols, often featuring a fouled anchor.
- Semper Fidelis: This famous motto wasn't adopted until around 1883. Before that, they used "Fortitudine" (With Fortitude).
Why the Founding Still Matters Today
The founding of the US Marine Corps isn't just a history lesson for the sake of trivia. It established a specific culture. Because the Marines were always a small, often underfunded branch, they developed a "make do with what you have" attitude.
They were born in a tavern because they didn't have a base. They wore green because they didn't have blue. They fought in the rigging because they didn't have enough cannons. That grit is baked into the DNA of the organization.
If you're researching this for a project or just because you’re a history buff, here are the three things you should actually take away from the 1775 story:
- It was an experiment. Nobody knew if a dedicated "sea soldier" unit would work or if they would just get in the way of the sailors.
- It was urban. Unlike the Army, which was largely agrarian and based in the fields, the Marines were born in the heart of the colonies' biggest city.
- It was nearly temporary. If not for the tensions with France and the Barbary Pirates later on, the Marines might have remained a historical footnote of the Revolution.
To truly understand the spirit of the Corps, you have to look past the polished ceremonies of today and see the guys in 1775. They were essentially a start-up. They were disorganized, poorly equipped, and facing the greatest military force on the planet. But they had a clear mission: get on the boat, stay on the boat, and win the fight when you get where you're going.
Actionable Steps for History Enthusiasts
- Visit Tun Tavern (The Site): While the original building was destroyed by fire in 1781, there is a commemorative marker at Front Street and Sansom Walk in Philadelphia. It's a pilgrimage every history fan should make.
- Read the Original Resolution: Look up the "Continental Marine Act of 1775." It’s a short read and shows exactly how the government phrased the creation of the branch.
- Check out the National Museum of the Marine Corps: Located in Triangle, Virginia, it has a stunning recreation of the Tun Tavern atmosphere and the original green uniforms.
- Study the 1798 Re-establishment: If you want the full picture, compare the 1775 resolution with the 1798 Act. It shows how the US government’s view of "permanent" military forces changed after the Revolution.