1775-1800 

Nine months before the Thirteen Colonies declared independence from the British Crown, the Continental Congress ordered that “two Battalions of marines be raised.” On Nov. 10, 1775, the Continental Marines were born and soon employed in the war for independence including service aboard ship, amphibious operations in the Battle of Nassau, and fighting ashore with Washington’s army at the Battle of Princeton.  Following the victory over the British at Yorktown, the Continental Marines were disbanded.  In 1798 as the fledgling nation faced threats from overseas, President John Adams officially re-established the United States Marine Corps under the “Act for establishing and organizing a Marine Corps” on 11 July 1798. Soon, Marines were aboard American ships fighting to secure American interests abroad.