Marine Corps Birthday
On November 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress meeting in
Philadelphia passed a resolution stating that "two Battalions of Marines
be raised" for service as landing forces with the fleet. This
resolution established the Continental Marines and marked the birth date
of the United States Marine Corps. Serving on land and at sea, these
first Marines distinguished themselves in a number of important
operations, including their first amphibious raid into the Bahamas in
March 1776, under the command of Captain (later Major) Samuel Nicholas.