BIRTH OF THE CONTINENTAL MARINES

Birth of the Continental Marines

On November 10th, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized the raising of two battalions of Marines to serve as soldiers at sea. These Continental Marines were intended to fight aboard warships, protect naval officers, and land in small detachments for raids and amphibious operations. The decision reflected the colonies’ need for a flexible force that could bridge the gap between ship and shore in a way ordinary infantry could not. Early Marine detachments served on Continental Navy vessels and took part in actions in the Caribbean and along the American coast, building a tradition of close cooperation with sailors. Although the Continental Marines were disbanded after the Revolutionary War, their legacy and date of formation were later claimed by the United States Marine Corps. Every celebration of the Marine Corps birthday traces back to this November day, when Congress first put naval infantry into the American order of battle.