July 11, 1798 ~ Happy UnBirthday U.S. Marine Corps

It’s July 11th.  Happy Unbirthday to the United States Marine Corps.

The United States Marine Corps” Birthday is celebrated every year on 10 November, the day that the Continental Marines were first established by the Congress in 1775.

But, because the Marines are just that Awesome, they have a 2nd Birthday July 11th

So how’d that happen????? Here’s how.

In 1775, the 2nd Continental Congress was in need of troops to battle the British during the Revolutionary War.

On November 10th, well before the Declaration of Independence was signed, Congress authorized 2 Battalions of Marines. They were aptly named the 1st Battalion and the 2nd Battalion.

Samuel Nicholas of Philadelphia was appointed Captain of Marines: aka the first Commandment, which was the first commission issued in the Continental Naval Service.

No sooner had Nicholas received his appointment, he setup the first recruiting station at a brewery……

Actually it was the Tun Tavern which was also a brewery just down the street from Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

It turned out out this was a shrewd move and Nicholas was able to entice enough recruits to fill the ranks.

Nicholas and the his Marines would go on to battle the British at the Battles of Nassau in the Bahamas, and Princeton in New Jersey.

After a successful run, Congress thanked the Marines by disbanding them and the Continental Navy in 1783.

Ultimately, however, during the Quasi-War with France, Congress decided that it was in the best interest of the young republic to have a bit more military than None and decided to resurrect the Marines on 11 July 1798.

TADA!!!! Birthday #2 for the Marines.

Over the next several decades, the Marines engaged in some of their most storied fights, including the First Barbary War in North Africa where the Marines landed near Tripoli in 1805.

That fight has been immortalized in the Marines’ hymn. The sword carried by Marine officers also traces its tradition to that fight.

It wasn’t until 1921, that the Marine Corp adopted November 10th as their official Birthday.

So today, we salute the United States Marines and wish them a very Happy UnBirthday.