On
November 10, 1775, the Continental Congress passed a resolution
stating that "two battalions of Marines be raised" for service as
landing forces with the fleet. This established the Continental Marines
and marked the birth of the United States Marine Corps. Serving on land
and at sea, early Marines distinguished themselves in a number of
important operations, including their first amphibious raid on foreign
soil in the Bahamas in March 1776, under the command of the
Corps’ first commandant, Capt. Samuel Nicholas. The 1783 Treaty of
Paris ended the Revolutionary War and as the last of the Navy’s ships
were sold, the Continental Navy and Marines disbanded.
Following the formal re-establishment of the Marine Corps on
July 11, 1798, Marines fought in conflicts with France, landed in Santo
Domingo and conducted operations against the Barbary pirates along the
"Shores of Tripoli."
Marines participated in numerous operations during the War of
1812, including the defense of Washington at Bladensburg, Md. They also
fought alongside Andrew Jackson in the defeat of the British at New
Orleans. Following the War of 1812, Marines protected American
interests around the world in areas like the Caribbean, the Falkland
Islands, Sumatra and off the coast of West Africa, and close to home in
operations against the Seminole Indians in Florida.
During the Mexican War, Marines seized enemy seaports on both
the Gulf and Pacific coasts. While landing parties of Marines and
Sailors were seizing enemy ports, a battalion of Marines joined General
Winfield Scott’s army at Pueblo and marched and fought all the way to
the "Halls of Montezuma," Mexico City.
