If you ask any Marine where it all started, they’ll give you the same date without blinking: November 10, 1775. It’s not just a trivia point for them. It’s basically sacred. But if you start digging into the actual paperwork and the mess of the American Revolution, the question of when was the USMC founded gets a little more "it's complicated" than a simple calendar flip.
The Continental Congress was meeting in Philadelphia. Things were getting hairy with the British. They needed a specialized force that could fight on the decks of ships and, more importantly, hop off those ships to cause chaos on land. So, they passed a resolution. Two battalions of Marines. That was the spark. But the soul of the Corps wasn't born in a sterile government hall. It was born in a bar.
Tun Tavern.
Most people know the name. It’s legendary. Robert Mullan, the tavern’s owner, was basically the first recruiter. He’d offer a tankard of beer and a chance for adventure, and suddenly, you had a fighting force. It was gritty. It was loud. It was exactly the kind of place you'd expect the toughest branch of the military to start.
The Resolution That Changed Everything
We have to look at the Continental Marine Act of 1775 to really get the legal side of it. John Adams was actually a huge proponent. He saw the need for "sea soldiers." On November 10, the Second Continental Congress decreed that these men should be "good seamen, or so acquainted with maritime affairs as to be able to serve to advantage by sea."
They weren't just extra sailors. They were marksmen.
Back then, naval warfare was a lot of maneuvering for position and then blasting away with cannons, sure, but when the ships got close, it turned into a nightmare of boarding parties. Marines would sit up in the "fighting tops"—the platforms high on the masts—and pick off officers on the enemy deck. It was brutal work.
The first commissioned officer was Samuel Nicholas. A Quaker. Think about the irony of that for a second. A man from a faith known for peace becoming the first leader of one of the most feared fighting forces in history. He was the one who went to Tun Tavern to start filling the ranks. By early 1776, they were already heading out on their first mission to the Bahamas. They wanted gunpowder. The British had a lot of it at Fort Nassau, and the new Americans desperately needed it.
The Gap Most People Forget
Here is the weird part. If you’re strictly looking at a timeline, there’s a massive hole. After the Revolutionary War ended in 1783, the Continental Marines were basically... gone. The government was broke. They sold off the ships. The Marines were disbanded.
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For fifteen years, there was no United States Marine Corps.
It wasn’t until July 11, 1798, that President John Adams signed the act that officially re-established the Corps as a permanent branch. This was during the "Quasi-War" with France. We needed a navy again, and if you have a navy, you need Marines. This is technically the legal birth of the modern USMC we recognize today.
So why don't they celebrate in July?
Tradition wins every time. In 1921, Major General John A. Lejeune (a name you’ll see on bases everywhere) issued Marine Corps Order No. 47. He wanted to remind everyone of the "honorable service" stretching back to 1775. He officially designated November 10 as the birthday. He knew that the spirit of the 1775 Continental Marines was the same spirit as the 1921 Marines. He linked the two eras together permanently.
Honestly, it was a brilliant branding move. It gave the Corps an unbroken lineage that predates the Declaration of Independence.
Why the "Leatherneck" Nickname Stuck
You've probably heard Marines called Leathernecks. It sounds tough, like their skin is literally made of cowhide from being outside so much. The reality is much more uncomfortable.
Between 1798 and 1872, the uniform included a stiff leather collar. It was about three inches high. It was meant to protect the neck from sword slashes during boarding actions. Can you imagine wearing that in the humidity of the Caribbean? It forced the Marines to keep their heads up and backs straight. It was miserable.
Eventually, the leather went away, but the "high collar" look stayed. That’s why the modern Dress Blues have that signature stiff collar. It’s a direct nod to the guys who had to wear actual leather around their throats while fighting off pirates.
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The Evolution of the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor
The symbol—the EGA—didn't just appear out of nowhere either. It evolved. Early on, they used various symbols, often featuring a fouled anchor or a common eagle. It wasn't until 1868 that Brigadier General Jacob Zeilin decided the Corps needed a single, recognizable emblem.
He hit on three key elements:
- The Eagle: Standing for the United States.
- The Globe: Signifying "World-wide service."
- The Anchor: Highlighting the naval tradition.
When people ask when was the USMC founded, they are often looking for the identity of the group. That identity was solidified through these symbols. It told the world that the Marines weren't just local militia; they were a global force. They were "In the air, on land, and at sea."
Major Conflicts That Defined the Early Corps
The 1800s were a wild time for the Marines. They were in the War of 1812, obviously, but the Shores of Tripoli is where the legend really grew. This was the first time the American flag was raised over a fortress in the Old World. Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon and his small group of Marines marched 600 miles across the Libyan desert to take the city of Derna.
That’s where the Mameluke sword comes from.
A prince gave O'Bannon the sword as a gesture of respect. Today, Marine officers still carry a version of that sword. It’s one of the oldest ceremonial weapons still in use by any U.S. military branch. Then you have the Mexican-American War and the "Halls of Montezuma." Every time they fought, they added a line to their hymn. It’s a literal history book set to music.
The Modern Turning Point
World War I changed the perception of the Corps forever. Before 1917, they were seen as a small, specialized unit. Then came Belleau Wood.
The Germans were pushing toward Paris. The French were retreating. A French officer told the arriving Marines to retreat too. Captain Lloyd Williams famously replied, "Retreat? Hell, we just got here."
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The fighting was so intense and the Marines so aggressive that the Germans reportedly nicknamed them "Teufel Hunden"—Devil Dogs. Whether the Germans actually said it or it was a clever bit of American propaganda doesn't really matter. The Marines claimed it. They wore it like a badge of honor. By the time the war ended, the USMC had proven they could fight as a massive, modern infantry force, not just a small boarding party on a wooden ship.
What You Should Know About the Birthday Today
Every November 10, no matter where they are—a muddy foxhole, a fancy ballroom, or a ship in the middle of the Pacific—Marines celebrate. They have a cake-cutting ceremony. It’s a whole thing.
The first piece of cake goes to the guest of honor. The second piece goes to the oldest Marine present. Then, the oldest Marine hands a piece to the youngest Marine present. It’s a physical representation of passing the knowledge and tradition down through the generations. It’s actually pretty moving if you see it in person.
The Corps is the only branch that treats its founding date with this level of intensity. It’s about "Esprit de Corps." It’s the glue that holds them together.
Myths vs. Reality
People love to say Tun Tavern was the only place they recruited. It wasn't. There were several taverns in Philly used for the same purpose. Tun Tavern just had the best location and the most charismatic owner.
Another big misconception is that the Marines are a part of the Army. Nope. Never. They fall under the Department of the Navy. They are a separate branch, but they work hand-in-hand with the sailors. They have their own command, their own rules, and a very different culture.
Actionable Steps for Learning More
If you’re interested in the history or looking to trace a family member's service, here are the best ways to get the real story:
- Visit the National Museum of the Marine Corps: It’s in Quantico, Virginia. The architecture itself is shaped like the Iwo Jima flag raising. It is hands-down one of the best military museums in the world.
- Read "First to Fight": This book by Victor Krulak is basically the "Bible" for understanding Marine culture. It explains why the Corps exists and how it has survived political attempts to shut it down.
- Check the National Archives: If you have a relative who served in the early days, the National Archives in Washington D.C. holds the original muster rolls and records. You can see the actual signatures of men who joined up in the 1800s.
- Follow the Marine Corps History Division: They put out incredible papers and primary source documents that go way beyond the basic "Founding 101" stuff.
The founding of the USMC wasn't a single moment. It was a 1775 vision that almost died, was reborn in 1798, and was finally codified by tradition in 1921. It’s a story of survival, both on the battlefield and in the halls of government.
Understanding the history gives you a much better appreciation for why that "Eagle, Globe, and Anchor" means so much to the people who wear it. They aren't just joining a job; they're joining a 250-year-old story that started in a Philadelphia bar over a few pints of ale.