Marine Corps History

LE-1508

Birth of theCorps

Continental Marines

1775-1783

10 November 1775• Tun Tavern : Philadelphia, Pa.Tun Tavern : Philadelphia, Pa.

• Two Battalions of MarinesTwo Battalions of Marines

• Captain Samuel NicholasCaptain Samuel Nicholas

• Captain Robert MullenCaptain Robert Mullen

First Landing (mission)

3 March 1776 New Providence, Bahamas Seize British supplies

D u t i e s Keep order aboard Navy ships Provide landing forces Man the cannons Assault with musket fire Board British ships and fight

using hand to hand combat

Continental Marines

1 Major 30 Captains 100 Lieutenants 2000 Enlisted

April 1783

Marine Corps disbands after Treaty of Paris is signedAmerica fears military

takeover

Beginning of theModern Corps

1794-1860

27 March 1794

Congress authorizes building of six U.S. ShipsUSS ConstellationUSS ConstitutionUSS United States

11 July 1798Congress authorizes

reorganization of Marine Corps

Major William Ward Burrows commissioned new Commanding Officer

Moves From Philadelphia, Pa. To Washington, D.C.

1800 - Nation’s Capitol1801 - Headquarters USMC

ChangesEmphasis on Drill for

discipline“President’s Own” createdPopularity of USMC

increased

“Barbary Wars”1801-1805 : Mediterranean SeaBarbary States : Morocco,

Algiers, TripoliBarbary PiratesBritish NavyPasha of Tripoli

“Expedition To Derna” Tripoli

Spring of 1805Lt. Presley O’Bannon & his Marines500 Arab Mercenaries650 miles of desertPrince HametMameluke Sword

“War Of 1812”

At Sea : stop British suppliesOn Land : Battles of

Bladensburg & New Orleans

Battle of Bladensburg5 miles from Washington D.C.British burned Washington D.C.8th & I was left standing

Battle of New Orleans

General Andrew JacksonDefeated BritishEnded the War

“Years of Peace”

Lt.Col. WhartonDisciplinary SystemHand SaluteMarine Barracks & Bks.Duty