If you walk into any dive bar in Philadelphia and mention the United States Marine Corps, someone is going to mention Tun Tavern. It’s the stuff of legend. You’ve probably heard the shorthand version: a bunch of guys got together in a pub, drank some ale, and decided to start an elite fighting force. While that makes for a great recruitment poster, the actual timeline of when were the marines started is a bit more bureaucratic—though no less gritty.
November 10, 1775. That’s the date every Marine has tattooed on their brain, or sometimes their bicep. But the "why" and the "how" are tucked away in the dusty minutes of the Second Continental Congress. They weren't looking to create a global force in 1775. Honestly, they were just trying to figure out how to stop the British from seizing their supplies.
The Continental Marines were essentially a desperate solution to a massive maritime problem. The colonies had plenty of sailors, but they lacked specialized troops who could fight in the "fighting tops" of ships or lead amphibious raids. It wasn't about prestige back then. It was about survival.
The Birthday Before the Birth
Technically, the question of when were the marines started has two answers. There’s the 1775 date we all celebrate, and then there’s the awkward "rebirth" in 1798. You see, after the Revolutionary War ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the Continental Marines were actually disbanded. Gone. They didn't exist for fifteen years because the new government was broke and didn't think they needed a standing military force at sea.
It wasn't until the "Quasi-War" with France that Congress realized they'd made a mistake. On July 11, 1798, President John Adams signed the act that officially re-established the United States Marine Corps. So, while 1775 is the emotional birthday, 1798 is when the modern version of the Corps actually became a permanent fixture of the U.S. government.
Tun Tavern and the First Recruitment Drive
Let’s talk about Robert Mullan. Most people know Samuel Nicholas was the first commissioned officer, but Mullan was the guy with the beer. He owned Tun Tavern. Because he was a savvy businessman and a patriot, he used his tavern as the primary recruiting station.
Imagine the scene. It’s cold in Philadelphia. You’re sitting by a fire with a pint of "Ship’s Stores" or a heavy ale. A man in a green coat—yes, the first uniforms were green, not blue—tells you that you can earn a wage, see the world, and kick some British teeth in. It was a hell of a pitch. Mullan was so good at it that he was eventually commissioned as a captain.
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The initial goal was to raise two battalions. They needed men who could handle a musket but didn't get seasick. These weren't the polished, high-tech warriors of today. They were rugged frontiersmen, laborers, and sailors who were willing to climb 100 feet up a mast in a gale to shoot at British officers.
The Green Uniform Mystery
Why green? Everyone asks that. Today we associate the Marines with the "Dress Blues," but when the Marines were started, the Continental Congress chose green. Why? It was likely just a matter of supply. Green cloth was easier to get than the specific blue dye used by the Continental Army or the Navy.
It also served a tactical purpose. Marines were marksmen. They were the snipers of the 18th century. Standing in the rigging of a ship, a green coat helped them blend into the shadows of the sails and ropes just a little bit better than a bright red or bright blue coat would. They wore "muskrat-colored" breeches and wool stockings. It wasn't glamorous. It was functional.
The Leatherneck Myth and Reality
You’ve heard the term "Leatherneck." It’s not just a cool nickname. When the Marines were started and later reorganized in the 1790s, their uniforms included a stiff leather collar.
Some historians argue it was to protect the neck from sword slashes during boarding actions. Others, perhaps more realistically, point out that it was designed to force Marines to keep their heads up and maintain a rigid, military posture. If you’ve ever worn a stiff collar on a hot day, you know it’s miserable. Now imagine doing that while reloading a flintlock musket on a rolling deck in the Caribbean.
The First Combat: New Providence
They didn't wait long to get into the fight. In March 1776, only a few months after they were started, the Marines carried out their first amphibious landing.
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Led by Samuel Nicholas, they hit the beaches of New Providence in the Bahamas. Their mission was simple: take the gunpowder. The Continental Army was chronically low on supplies, and the British had a massive stockpile sitting in Fort Montagu. The Marines landed, took the fort without firing a single shot (the British governor realized he was outmatched), and hauled away 88 cannons and 15 mortars. It was the first proof that this "new" branch of service actually worked.
The Gap Years: 1783 to 1798
This is the part of the story that gets skipped over in the history books. Between the end of the Revolution and the re-establishment of the Corps, the U.S. had no Marines. The last Marine, Captain Michael Ryan, was discharged in 1783.
The ships were sold off. The men went back to their farms or merchant vessels. It was a dark time for American naval power. Pirates from the Barbary Coast began harassing American merchant ships because they knew there was no one to stop them. This lack of protection eventually forced the government’s hand. You can’t have a global trade presence if you can’t protect your cargo.
When the Marines were started again in 1798, it was with a much clearer sense of purpose. They weren't just "extra hands" for the Navy anymore. They were the "Soldiers of the Sea."
The Evolution of the Role
The role of a Marine in 1775 was vastly different from what it became in the 20th century. Initially, they were there to:
- Keep order on the ship (preventing mutinies).
- Snipe from the rigging during ship-to-ship combat.
- Lead boarding parties to capture enemy vessels.
- Conduct small-scale raids on coastal outposts.
They weren't fighting inland battles yet. They were maritime specialists. It wasn't until the Mexican-American War and the "Halls of Montezuma" that the world started seeing the Marines as a force that could march miles away from their ships and take a capital city.
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Why Does the Date Matter So Much?
You might wonder why Marines are so obsessed with when were the marines started. It’s about lineage. In a country that was brand new, having a tradition that predated the Declaration of Independence was a point of immense pride.
The Marine Corps Birthday is arguably the most celebrated holiday in the military. Whether they are in a foxhole in a combat zone or at a black-tie ball in D.C., Marines stop to cut a cake with a sword on November 10. The first slice goes to the oldest Marine present, who then passes it to the youngest. It’s a literal passing of the torch that links back to that cold day in Philadelphia in 1775.
Correcting the Record
There are a few things people get wrong about the early days. First, they weren't part of the Navy at the very beginning. They were a separate entity that served with the Navy. Second, they weren't all volunteers in the way we think of today. Many were "recruited" from jails or coerced with the promise of prize money from captured ships. It was a rough life.
Also, the "First Marine" is a title often debated. While Samuel Nicholas was the first officer, some people point to William Anthony or other enlisted men who were actually the first to sign the rolls. But Nicholas is the one with the monument.
Actionable Takeaways for History Buffs
If you’re interested in the origins of the Corps or want to see where it all began, here’s how to dive deeper:
- Visit Independence National Historical Park: In Philly, you can see the site where Tun Tavern once stood. There’s a commemorative plaque at Front Street and Sansom Walk. The original building is gone (burned down in 1781), but the spirit is definitely there.
- Read the Original Resolution: Look up the "Continental Marine Act of 1775." It’s a short document, but it’s the legal foundation for everything that followed.
- Explore the National Museum of the Marine Corps: Located in Triangle, Virginia, this place is incredible. It has lifelike exhibits that show exactly what those first green-coated Marines looked like and the conditions they fought in.
- Check the "Quasi-War" Records: To understand the 1798 rebirth, look into the Naval War with France. It’s a forgotten part of American history that explains why we have a permanent Marine Corps today.
The story of when the Marines were started isn't just about a date on a calendar. It's about a group of people who saw a need for a specific kind of toughness and decided to build it from scratch, starting in a tavern and ending up as one of the most respected fighting forces on the planet. Honestly, it's a miracle they survived those first few years at all. But they did. And they haven't stopped since.