OTD in 1775: The Marine Corps is born (Nov. 10)
On this day, six months after the first shot of the revolutionary war was fired, the Second Continental Congress composed of delegates from the 13 colonies established the Continental Marines.
The first marines signed up at a brewery called Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In this same tavern you’d find Benjamin Franklin years before organizing militia or a few decades after you’d see John Adams writing articles of war to build America’s first naval fleet.
It wasn’t until a few months later in March 1776 that the Marines made their first raid. Lead by Captain Samuel Nicholas, Marines landed in New Providence Island, Bahamas. And in 13 days they secured two forts, occupied Nassau, controlled the Government House, seized 88 guns, 16,535 shells, and other supplies.
The Marine Corps was dismantled after the Revolutionary War but reinstated fifteen years later and have fought in every major US war since.
In the 1800s they fought Barbary pirates in North Africa and defeated enemy forces in Tripoli (in what is now Lybia).
In 1859, under the command of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, the Marines were sent to Harper’s Ferry, in now West Virginia to captures abolitionist John Brown. Often referred to as the tragic prelude to the American Civil War, John Brown was captured after he tried to arm enslaved people by raiding a federal armory.
In 1898, 20 marines were among the 260 that died in the Havana Harbour after the USS Maine blew up. This ignited the Spanish-American war, the same war where the Marines founded Guantanamo Bay naval base.
During the First World War, the US Marines aided the French and British army in many operations including a significant battle 85km west of Paris at a place called Bois de Belleau (Belleau Wood). Over the course of 31 days of constant fighting, the Marines suffered over 9 000 casualties. The French Army in appreciation of the valor of the Marines, officially renamed Belleau Wood as the “Bois de la Brigade de Marine.”
During the Second World War, the Marines were the US’ primary ground forces in the Pacific. Fighting some of the bloodiest battles, the worst being Iwo Jima.
The Marines played a prominent role in the Korean war, and the first ground troops to fight in Vietnam. They were also deployed during the Gulf War, Afganistan, and Iraq war.
To this day Marines celebrate their birthday with a birthday cake and a ball.
Also on this date:
1483 — Martin Luther is born in Eisleben, Saxony
1918 — The Western Union Cable Office in North Sydney, Nova Scotia, receives a top-secret coded message from Europe (that would be sent to Ottawa and Washington, D.C.) that said on November 11, 1918, all fighting would cease on land, sea, and in the air.
1928 — WW1 novel, All Quiet on the Western Front, is published
1969 — Sesame Street Debuts
