If you ask any leatherneck at a bar when the Corps started, they’ll bark out "November 10, 1775" before you even finish the sentence. It’s ingrained. It's legendary. But honestly, the story of when were marines created is a bit messier than just a bunch of guys grabbing muskets in a Philadelphia pub.
History isn't always a straight line.
Before there was even a United States, there were "marines" serving on British ships. We’re talking about the 1740s, specifically "Gooch’s Marines," a regiment of American colonists who fought for the British Crown during the War of Jenkins' Ear. They were basically the rough draft. But the version we celebrate today—the U.S. Marine Corps—was born out of a desperate need for a fighting force that could handle the chaos of ship-to-ship combat during the American Revolution.
The Continental Congress was meeting in Philadelphia, and they realized that if they were going to take on the British Navy, they needed specialized troops. Men who could shoot from the riggings. Men who could lead boarding parties. On November 10, 1775, they passed a resolution to raise two battalions of Marines.
The Tun Tavern Myth vs. Reality
Every Marine knows Tun Tavern. We treat it like the Bethlehem of the Corps. According to the legend, Robert Mullan, the first captain of the Marines, set up shop at this tavern and started handing out beer and "bounties" to get men to sign up.
Was it a real place? Yes. Was Mullan the proprietor? Absolutely. Did he recruit there? Most likely.
But historians like Edwin Simmons have noted that the "first" recruitment actually happened at the Conestoga Wagon tavern nearby. Tun Tavern just had the better brand name and the better beer. It became the symbolic birthplace because it captured the spirit of the early Corps: rowdy, communal, and forged in a pub.
When were marines created? Technically, the legislative stroke of the pen happened at Independence Hall, but the soul of the organization was born in those smoke-filled rooms where guys were promised a life of adventure and a few extra coins in their pockets.
Why the Navy Needed Them
You have to understand how naval warfare worked in the 18th century. It wasn't just about firing cannons from a distance. Ships would pull up alongside each other, throw grappling hooks, and turn the decks into a floating slaughterhouse.
Sailors were there to work the ropes and the guns. Marines were there to fight.
🔗 Read more: When Does Joe Biden's Term End: What Actually Happened
They were the original "multi-domain" force. They stood in the "fighting tops"—those little platforms high up on the masts—and picked off officers on the enemy decks with long rifles. When the ships collided, they were the first ones over the rail with cutlasses and pistols.
The Great Disappearing Act (1783–1798)
Here’s a weird fact most people forget: the Marines actually ceased to exist for a while.
After the Revolutionary War ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the Continental Congress was broke. Like, completely bankrupt. They sold off the last ship, the Alliance, and the Continental Marines were simply disbanded. They didn't just go on hiatus; they were gone.
For fifteen years, there was no United States Marine Corps.
It wasn't until 1798, when the "Quasi-War" with France started heating up, that President John Adams signed the act that officially re-established the Corps. This is why you sometimes see arguments about the "true" birthdate. Is it 1775 or 1798? For the sake of tradition and morale, the Corps sticks to 1775. They claim the lineage of the Continental Marines, even if there was a gap in service.
It's a bit like a band breaking up for a decade and then reuniting—they still count the early albums.
Equipment and the "Leatherneck" Origin
In the early days, being a Marine was a grueling job. Their uniforms weren't the fancy Dress Blues you see in commercials today. They wore short green coats with white trim. Why green? It was a common color for woodsmen and sharpshooters at the time, and it helped distinguish them from the blue-clad Continental Army and the blue-clad Navy.
And then there’s the collar.
The term "Leatherneck" isn't just a cool nickname. From 1798 to 1872, Marines wore a stiff leather collar (a stock) around their necks.
💡 You might also like: Fire in Idyllwild California: What Most People Get Wrong
- It forced them to keep their heads up and maintain a military bearing.
- More importantly, it protected their jugular from cutlass slashes during boarding actions.
It was uncomfortable. It was hot. It was practical. It's a perfect metaphor for the Corps itself: something that looks rigid and tough because it’s designed to survive a fight.
The Role of Robert Mullan and Samuel Nicholas
We can't talk about when were marines created without mentioning Samuel Nicholas. He’s traditionally considered the first Commandant. He was a Philadelphia Quaker—ironic, right?—who was commissioned as a Captain on the same day the resolution passed.
Nicholas wasn't a career soldier; he was a tavern owner’s son who knew how to lead men. He took his recruits to the Bahamas in 1776 for the Raid of Nassau. They captured gunpowder and cannons that George Washington desperately needed. It was the first amphibious landing in the history of the Corps.
It wasn't a "D-Day" style invasion. It was a messy, localized raid. But it proved that these "sea-soldiers" were worth the investment.
The Evolution of the Mission
The mission in 1775 was simple: keep the sailors from mutinying and shoot the guys on the other ship.
By the time the 1800s rolled around, that mission started to shift. During the Barbary Wars, Marines marched across the desert to the shores of Tripoli. This was a massive turning point. It showed they weren't just ship-bound security guards; they were a projection of American power on foreign soil.
This is where the "Mameluke Sword" comes from. After the Battle of Derne, a local chieftain gave Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon a curved sword as a sign of respect. To this day, Marine officers carry a version of that sword.
It's all connected. The tavern, the leather collars, the desert marches.
Common Misconceptions About the Founding
People often think the Marines were always a separate branch of the military. They weren't. For a long time, they existed in a weird limbo between the Army and the Navy. In fact, there were several attempts in the 1800s to absorb the Marines into the Army entirely.
📖 Related: Who Is More Likely to Win the Election 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
President Andrew Jackson famously wanted to get rid of them.
The only reason the Corps survived was because of Archibald Henderson, the "Grand Old Man of the Marine Corps." He served as Commandant for 38 years. He literally locked the door to his office one day and left a note saying he had gone to fight in the Seminole Wars. His sheer stubbornness kept the Corps alive when politicians wanted to cut the budget.
So, while we celebrate 1775, the Corps as we know it—a permanent, distinct branch—was really forged through decades of political infighting and bureaucratic survival.
Actionable Insights for History Buffs and Applicants
If you’re researching the history of the Marine Corps because you’re interested in military lineage or perhaps considering joining, there are a few things you should actually do rather than just reading Wikipedia.
- Visit the National Museum of the Marine Corps: It’s in Quantico, Virginia. It’s not just a collection of dusty uniforms; it’s an immersive experience that explains the "why" behind the "when."
- Read "First to Fight" by Victor Krulak: This is the definitive book on why the Marine Corps exists and how it has fought to stay relevant. It goes way deeper than the 1775 founding date.
- Check the Primary Sources: If you're a real history nerd, look up the "Journals of the Continental Congress" for November 10, 1775. Seeing the original language used to create the "two battalions of marines" puts the whole thing in perspective.
- Understand the Birthday Ball: If you know a Marine, ask them about the Birthday Ball. It’s held every November 10th. It’s a formal event where the oldest Marine present gives a piece of cake to the youngest Marine. It’s the physical manifestation of the timeline we just discussed—the passing of the torch from 1775 to today.
The Marine Corps wasn't created in a vacuum. It was a pragmatic response to a global conflict. It was born out of a need for men who could bridge the gap between land and sea. Whether it was in the riggings of a wooden ship or the trenches of a modern battlefield, the core identity remains the same: a small, aggressive force that gets the jobs nobody else wants.
Next time you see that "1775" bumper sticker, remember it’s not just a date. It’s a reminder of a bunch of guys in a Philadelphia tavern who had no idea they were starting one of the most famous fighting forces in human history. They just wanted to win a war and maybe have a pint of Robert Mullan’s ale.
For those tracking the genealogy of American military power, the founding of the Marines represents the first time the colonies realized they needed more than just a militia; they needed a professional, specialized elite. That realization is what has kept the Corps around for over 250 years.
To dig deeper into the actual logistics of the 1775 recruitment, you should look into the specific muster rolls of the Alfred and the Columbus, the first ships to carry these newly minted Continental Marines into battle. These documents show exactly who these men were: mostly laborers, immigrants, and adventurous youths looking for a way out of the city. Their names are the true foundation of the date we celebrate.