The Continental Marines served as the infantry marines for the American Colonies and later the United States during the tumultuous period of the American Revolutionary War. Established by the Continental Congress on November 10, 1775, this organization played a crucial, multi-purpose role in the war effort before its disbandment in 1783. Despite a gap in formal existence, the United States Marine Corps proudly traces its lineage and official founding
date back to November 10, 1775, recognizing the Continental Marines as its direct predecessor and embodying a tradition similar to British and Dutch Marine units.
Formation and Early Missions
The Continental Congress formally decreed the raising of two battalions of Marines in accordance with the Continental Marine Act of 1775. These battalions were to consist of one Colonel, two lieutenant-colonels, two majors, and other officers, mirroring the structure of other regiments. A key directive was that recruits should be "good seamen, or so acquainted with maritime affairs as to be able to serve for and during the present war with Great Britain and the Colonies." They were to be distinguished as the First and Second Battalions of Marines and considered part of the Continental Army besieging Boston.
Initially, these battalions were intended to be drawn from George Washington's army for a planned invasion of Halifax, Nova Scotia, a critical British reinforcement and supply point. However, only one battalion, comprising five companies and about 300 men, was formed by December. Plans for the second battalion were indefinitely suspended after British regiments and German-allied soldiers landed in Nova Scotia, rendering the amphibious assault impossible. Washington, hesitant to support the Marines directly, suggested recruiting them from New York or Philadelphia instead. Captain Samuel Nicholas was commissioned as the Continental Marines' only Commandant on November 28, 1775, with the first Marine barracks located in Philadelphia. While legend points to Tun Tavern as the first recruiting post, historian Edwin Simmons suggests the Conestoga Waggon, a tavern owned by the Nicholas family, was more likely. Robert Mullen, whose mother owned Tun Tavern, later became a captain in June 1776 and likely used it for recruiting. Four additional Marine Security Companies were raised to assist Washington in defending Philadelphia.
Diverse Roles and Key Engagements
The mission of the Continental Marines was diverse, encompassing amphibious warfare, onboard security for naval vessels, guarding naval bases and shore stations, and protecting ship captains and their officers. During naval engagements, Marines not only helped man cannons alongside the ship's crew but also deployed sharpshooters in the ship's masts to target enemy officers and gunners, a tactic designed to disrupt command and control.
Continental Marines participated in significant operations, including joining Commodore Esek Hopkins's first squadron on its Caribbean cruise. They conducted two landings in Nassau, Bahamas, to capture British naval supplies. The first landing, known as the Battle of Nassau, involved 250 Marines and sailors led by Nicholas, who seized naval stores but failed to secure gunpowder. A second landing, led by Lieutenant Trevet, captured several ships and additional stores. Upon returning to Rhode Island, the squadron captured four prize ships. Despite Hopkins's disgrace for disobeying orders, Nicholas was promoted to major and tasked with raising four Marine companies for new frigates. In December 1776, Marines joined Washington's army at Trenton, fighting at the Battle of Princeton. They also participated in the Penobscot Expedition, landing on Nautilus Island and the Majabagaduce peninsula, though they suffered heavy losses during a withdrawal. A group under Navy Captain James Willing conducted raids on British Loyalists on Lake Pontchartrain after traveling down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. The final official act of the Continental Marines was to escort a loan of silver crowns from Louis XVI of France from Boston to Philadelphia, enabling the opening of the Bank of North America.
Dissolution and Enduring Legacy
With the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, both the Continental Navy and Marines were disbanded in April 1783. Although some individual Marines continued to serve on the few remaining U.S. naval vessels, the last Continental Marine was discharged in September. In total, there were 131 Colonial Marine officers and an estimated maximum of 2,000 enlisted Colonial Marines. The organization would not be re-created until 1798. Despite this fifteen-year gap, the United States Marine Corps officially recognizes November 10, 1775, as its founding date, honoring the legacy and contributions of the Continental Marines as the foundational force of American amphibious warfare.
