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The Revolutionary War Begins
April 19, 1775: The Revolutionary War begins after the first shot was fired in Lexington, Massachusetts. -
The Continental Marines are Formed
November 10, 1775: The Continental Congress forms 2 battalions of troops named the Continental Marines. -
The Marines First Commander
November 28, 1775: Captain Samuel Nicholas was placed in charge of the Marines. -
Fort Nassau
March 3, 1776 - March 4, 1776: Fort Nassau - The first amphibious mission by the continental Marines(234 men) in New Providence, Bahamas to acquire gunpowder. They originally landed at Fort Montague and captured the fort without opposition. And the next day they attacked within minutes gained the 24 barrels of gunpowder(which was not as much as before because British troops removed some after the initial attack) as well as cannons and other caches. -
The Declaration of Independence is Signed
July 4, 1776: The Declaration of Independence became official declaring the 13 colonies a independent nation. -
The Battle of Trenton
December, 1776: 300 Marines commanded by Major Nicholas Joined General (George) Washington's army to serve as a reserve force in the Battle of Trenton as artillery and infantrymen. Although this was the first time the Marines had worked with the army. -
The Treaty of Paris
September 3, 1783: The Treaty of Paris is signed officially ending the revolutionary war and leading to the Continental Navy and Marines disbanding. -
The Quasi-War Begins
July 7, 1798: The Quasi-War was an unofficial naval war between the U.S and France during John Adam's presidency, started because of the XYZ affair and ended when Napoleon raised to power. -
The United States Department of the Navy is Formed
April 30, 1798: The United States Department of the Navy is formed under an act of congress in order to provide organization for the U.S. Navy. -
U.S Marines Rebirth
July 11, 1798: The U.S Marines are reinstated to fight in the Quasi-War. -
The Marines New Digs
In Charlestown, Massachusetts the Marines were set up at one of America’s oldest marine barracks Navy Yard. -
The First Barbary War
March, 1800: The 1st Barbary War was an undeclared war against the North African states of Morocco, Tripoli, Algiers, and Tunis. This was because these states assisted in helping pirates who were ransoming off trade ships. -
The Battle of Derna
April 27, 1805 – May 13, 1805: Battle of Derna - Marines(nicknamed "leathernecks" at the time) fought against the Barbary Pirates in order to free those held on the U.S.S Philadelphia. -
The War of 1812 Begins
Jun 18, 1812: When the British attempted to block U.S trade and added U.S seamen in to the Royal Navy congress voted to declare war on Britain, leading to the White House being razed and a tie between the 2 forces. -
The Marines Work with Oliver Perry's Fleet
Sep, 1813: Marines worked alongside woodmen and Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's fleet. This ended the British and Indians attacks on the frontier allowing exploration of the Northwest in the American Expansion. -
Marines Vs. The Duke's Army
200 Marines and the Navy met up to try and defeat Duke of Wellington's 28,000 man British Army(who previously defeated Napoleon at Waterloo). -
The Battle of Bladensburg
Aug, 1814: The Battle of Bladensburg: 13 miles away from Washington D.C. in Bladensburg, Maryland 103 Marines and 500 sailors fought desperately against 4,000 British Soldiers to keep them from D.C. The Marines were able to stop 3 attacks but their commanders were wounded and captured. The battle ended in the Marines retreat, later a officer in the British forces stated “They have given us our only real fight”. -
New Orleans Defense
Dec 14, 1814: 9,000 British troops landed near New Orleans and fought against both Marines and Navy in bayous. This allowed Major General Andrew Jackson to form a defense for D.C,. And after 2 weeks(Dec 28) the British began shelling and attacking D.C. -
Marines on the Frontline in New Orleans
Jan 18, 1815: A British commander led 2 regiments into front lines on flat plain in Jackson’s territory. And in 25 minutes 2,100 British soldiers were shot down. The next day British soldiers retreated, and the marines were credited for their work by Jackson and Congress who commended their “high sense of valor and good conduct”. -
The Second Barbary War
After President Madison and Congress allowed an war on Algiers to free the hostages as well as ending the payments. The marines won and stopped the tributes, freed the 10 enslaved Americans from the Edwin, and gave them $10,000 of compensation. -
The First Seminole War
1817-1818: When Britain had control over Florida they would persuade the Seminole’s that Americans were their enemies, this caused many attack against American settlers who came into their territory. So the U.S. Army under the command of General Andrew Jackson pushed the Seminoles farther into Florida. And after Spain ceded Florida and gave it to the U.S they began removing Seminoles from Florida although some stayed in the Florida Everglades. -
The Fourth Commandant Court-Martialed
1820: The Fourth Commandant was court-martialed for “conduct unbecoming”. -
The Fifth Commandant
Jan 2, 1821: Archibald Henderson is made the Fifth Commandant of the Marines -
Marines Quell Boston Prison Riot
Mar 12, 1824: After the marines quelled a Boston prison riot, they gained more fame. -
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The Fifth Commandant Defends the Marines Place in the Navy
Archibald Henderson fights against Andrew Jackson and others who wished for a merger between the Marines and Army, and in 1834 Congress passed an act stating that the Marines would stay a department of the Military. -
The Second Seminole War or Seminole War Proper
1835-1842: The 2nd Seminole War(Seminole War Proper): After U.S Army started enforcing After an Army detachment was ambushed by 180 Seminole warriors leaving one soldier left. The Seminole had less than 3,000 warriors against 4 U.S Generals and more than 30,000 soldiers. It took the U.S $20 million to pay for the war and 1,500 suspected dead. The war had ended after hostilities had dialed down although no treaty was signed so the remaining Seminoles of Florida moved to modern-day Oklahoma. -
Marine Headquarters Legend
May 23, 1836: A legend was posted on the back of the Marine HQ’s door "Have gone to Florida to fight the Indians, will be back when the war is over" -
Marines Vs. The Creek Nation
1836-1837: Archibald Henderson marched 400 marines to the Florida-Georgia border to fight the Creek Nation. -
The Mexican-American War Begins
Apr 25, 1846-1848: The Mexican-American War - James K. Polk believed in “manifest destiny” that stated that the U.S had to stretch to the Pacific Ocean. After the U.S annexed Texas and a border conflict started the war. -
The Battle of Chapultepec
Sep 12, 1847 - Sep 13, 1847: The Battle of Chapultepec - Marines were sent to assist in the capture Palacio Nacional(National Palace) to disrupt the Mexican-American War. On the 12th the Marines shelled the National Palace and on the 13th 2 forces scaled the walls and assaulted the palace. -
Large-Scale Amphibious Landing
Mar 9, 1847: The first large-scale amphibious landing conducted by a 12,000 man army by the Army, Navy, & Marines. -
The Third Semiole War
1855-1858: The 3rd Seminole War - When conflicts over land the remaining Seminoles inhabited. With constant Military patrols and bounties reduced the Seminoles population to under 200. -
Pearl River Defense
Nov 20, 1856: A team of 50 Marines assisted in capturing 4 barrier ports along the Pearl River which leads to Canton, China. -
The Fifth Commandant Dies
Jan 6, 1859: After 39 years in office the Fifth Commandant(nick-named the "The Grand Old Man of the Corps") dies, his accomplishment were introducing a higher standard to the corps(in appearance, training, and discipline), instituted a professional schools, made a just promotion system for officers and SNCO(non-commissioned officers), promoted to Brevet Brigadier General, and fought Mexico for California and Texas for 7 years. He died on the couch in the oldest part of the building. -
Harper Ferry Assault
Marines(now under the command of Colonel Robert E. Lee stormed the U.S armory at Harper’s Ferry to kill the attempted slave revolt led by abolitionist John Brown. -
Fort Sumter
Apr 12, 1861: At Fort Sumter, South Carolina Confederate soldiers bombarded Union soldiers. This was caused by discussions in the government by the North to abolish slavery which would mainly affect the South who relied on slaves as their main work force so they broke off from America and became the Confederates. -
The Special Amphibious Battalion
1861: The Marine corps made a special amphibious battalion that was never defended a beachhead but did provide a solid blockade against Confederates. -
The First Marine to Earn the Medal of Honor
May 15, 1862: Cpl. John F. Mackie was the first Marine to get Congressional Medal of Honor. -
The Battle at Appomattox Courthouse
April 9, 1865: Marines assisted in the battle at the Appomattox Courthouse where the Confederates surrendered. -
The Eagle, Globe, and Anchor
Nov 19, 1868: The Marine Corps Emblem is adopted (Eagle, Globe, and Anchor).
