Ask any Marine about their birthday, and they won’t give you a month in the spring or a summer date. They’ll point directly to November 10. Specifically, November 10, 1775. If you're wondering when was the United States Marine Corps founded, that is the short answer, but the "how" and the "where" are way more interesting than just a line in a history textbook.
It started in a bar. Seriously.
While the Continental Congress was busy trying to figure out how to not lose a war against the most powerful empire on the planet, they realized they needed "sea soldiers." They weren't looking for standard sailors who could tie knots and scrub decks. They needed guys who could shoot straight from the rigging of a ship and storm beaches. So, they passed a resolution. It wasn't fancy. It just called for two battalions of Marines.
The Tun Tavern Myth vs. Reality
Most people hear the name "Tun Tavern" and think of a quaint little pub in Philadelphia. In 1775, it was basically the recruiting office. Robert Mullan, who was the tavern's owner and is often considered the first "recruiter" in the Corps, used the lure of cold beer and the promise of adventure to find the first few hundred men.
Was it really the exact birthplace? Historians like to argue about this. Some say the recruiting actually happened down the street at the Conestoga Wagon tavern. But in Marine Corps lore, Tun Tavern is the spot. It’s the spiritual home. Samuel Nicholas, the first commissioned officer in the Marines, was the guy tasked with putting the whole thing together. He wasn't a career military man; he was a Philadelphian with a reputation for being capable. He had to build an elite force from scratch while the British were literally sitting in the harbor.
The early Marines weren't the polished, dress-blue-wearing force you see today. They were rugged. They wore green coats—not blue—because green wool was easier to get ahold of in the colonies.
Why 1775 Isn't the Only Important Date
There’s a weird glitch in the timeline that a lot of people miss. After the Revolutionary War ended in 1783, the Continental Marines were basically disbanded. The government was broke. They sold off the ships. The Marines essentially ceased to exist for a few years.
It wasn't until July 11, 1798, that President John Adams signed the act that formally re-established the United States Marine Corps as a permanent branch. If you want to be a technicality nerd, you could argue the "modern" Corps started then. But if you said that to a Marine, you’d get a very cold stare. For the Corps, the lineage is unbroken from that first meeting in a Philly tavern.
📖 Related: Trump New Gun Laws: What Most People Get Wrong
The 1798 comeback was driven by the "Quasi-War" with France. We needed a Navy again, and a Navy without Marines is just a fleet of targets. This was the era where the "Leatherneck" nickname actually started. The Marines wore high leather collars to protect their necks from sword slashes and to keep their heads up straight. It was uncomfortable as hell, but it became a symbol of the grit required for the job.
The First Amphibious Raid
You can't talk about when was the United States Marine Corps founded without looking at their first big "job" in 1776. Just months after being formed, Samuel Nicholas led a group of Marines to New Providence in the Bahamas.
They weren't there for a vacation.
They needed gunpowder. The Continental Army was desperate for it. The Marines landed, took the forts, and hauled off a massive supply of ordnance. This was the first time the world saw what "ship-to-shore" combat looked like for the Americans. It set the template for every Pacific landing in WWII and every modern expeditionary unit since.
The Evolution of the Marine Birthday
Believe it or not, the Marines didn't always celebrate November 10. For a long time, they actually recognized the July 1798 date. It wasn’t until 1921 that Major General John A. Lejeune (a name you’ll see on base signs everywhere) issued Marine Corps Order No. 47.
This order summarized the history, mission, and tradition of the Corps. It officially designated November 10 as the birthday. He wanted to remind the men of their "warrior class" roots in the Revolution.
Now, the Marine Corps Ball is a massive deal. It’s not just a party; it’s a ritual. They cut a cake with a Mameluke sword. The first piece goes to the guest of honor, then the oldest Marine present takes a bite and passes it to the youngest Marine. It represents the passing of experience and tradition. It’s one of those things that makes the USMC different from the other branches—the obsession with their own history is what keeps the culture so tight.
👉 See also: Why Every Tornado Warning MN Now Live Alert Demands Your Immediate Attention
What Most People Get Wrong
People often think the Marines are part of the Army. They aren't. They fall under the Department of the Navy, but they are a distinct branch. This confusion stems from the early days when they were seen as "soldiers of the sea."
Another misconception? That the Marines were founded to be guards for the Captains. While they did help maintain discipline on ships (and prevented mutinies), their primary role was always combat. They were the sharpshooters in the "fighting tops"—the platforms high up on the masts. During a sea battle, while the cannons were roaring below, Marines were perched up high, picking off officers on the enemy decks with muskets. It was a terrifying job.
Why the Founding Date Matters Today
In a world of high-tech drones and cyber warfare, why does a date from 1775 matter?
Because the Marine Corps is built on "esprit de corps." It's a French term that basically means the spirit of the group. Knowing that they were founded in a bar before the country was even officially a country gives them a sense of being the "first to fight." It creates a brand that is almost impossible to break.
When you look at the timeline:
- November 10, 1775: The Continental Congress authorizes the first two battalions.
- March 1776: First amphibious landing in the Bahamas.
- 1783: The Corps is temporarily mothballed after the Treaty of Paris.
- July 11, 1798: The USMC is officially re-created by law.
- 1921: The birthday is standardized to November 10.
It’s a jagged history. It’s not a straight line of growth. It’s a story of a small group of guys who kept proving they were too useful to get rid of.
How to Research More or Visit the History
If you're a history buff and want to see the "receipts," you shouldn't just Google it.
✨ Don't miss: Brian Walshe Trial Date: What Really Happened with the Verdict
First, head to the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia. It’s right outside Quantico. The architecture is designed to look like the flag-raising at Iwo Jima, and the exhibits cover the founding better than any book.
Second, check out the Marine Corps History Division online. They keep the official archives. You can read the actual text of the 1775 resolution.
Third, if you’re ever in Philadelphia, go to the corner of Front Street and Sansom Walk. You won’t find the original Tun Tavern—it’s long gone, lost to fire and time—but there’s a commemorative plaque. There have been talks for years about rebuilding it, but for now, the spot is a pilgrimage site for veterans.
The founding of the Marine Corps wasn't a grand, sweeping ceremony. It was a desperate move by a fledgling government that needed tough people to do a dirty job at sea. 250 years later, the job has changed, but the date hasn't. November 10 is the day the "few and the proud" started their run, and honestly, they haven't slowed down since.
To dig deeper into the actual documents, look for the Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789. You can find these digitized through the Library of Congress. Look for the entry for November 10, 1775. It’s surprisingly brief for something that started a global legend.
Check the "Marpines" section of the Naval History and Heritage Command website for details on the first uniforms and the specific ships they served on during the Revolution, like the USS Alfred.
Final Insights for History Enthusiasts
If you want to truly understand the USMC founding, remember that it was a practical solution to a tactical problem. The British had the best navy in the world; the Americans had fishing boats and guts. The Marines were the "force multiplier" that leveled the playing field.
For those looking to honor this history:
- Visit the Tun Tavern memorial in Philadelphia.
- Explore the Marine Corps archives for primary source documents from the 1770s.
- Study the 1798 re-establishment act to see how the Corps evolved from a temporary militia to a permanent military branch.